What happened to our daughter in that hospital?

Marjorie and Mark Sharp often ask themselves one simple question - what happened to our daughter in that hospital?

Laura, 41, was admitted to Muckamore Abbey Hospital when she was 16 and lived there for more than 17 years.

Her story, alongside dozens of others, is included in the Muckamore public inquiry into the abuse of adults - its final report is due to be published on Thursday.

"When Laura hears the word Muckamore she becomes anxious and fidgety she doesn't want to talk about it - things happened to her in there which she can't explain.

"One particular time she pulled her T-shirt up and she had bruises all around her chest and she stood up and said 'I'm scared'," Marjorie said.

The hospital in County Antrim opened in 1949 and became a regional hub for adults and children with severe learning and mental health disabilities.

Currently undergoing a planned closure, it's also at the centre of what's thought to be the biggest criminal adult safeguarding case of its kind in the UK.

Laura's dad Mark said in 2008 after they saw the bruising on Laura's body they turned to the police for help; but their investigation got nowhere when according to them, the police were told she was resting and could not be examined.

The Muckamore public inquiry began in June 2022 and heard oral evidence from 181 witnesses and a total of over 300 statements.

It was chaired by Tom Kark KC, who played a key role in the 2010 inquiry into avoidable deaths at Stafford Hospital in England.

A separate police investigation began in 2017 after allegations of ill-treatment began to emerge.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has trawled through thousands of hours of CCTV footage from the hospital as part of its investigation - it was also produced as evidence in the public inquiry.

While cameras were not fitted in Laura's wards, Mark and Marjorie believe their daughter's behaviour and marks of bruising on her body suggest she was subject to abuse.

"From the start she was over medicated, her life in the hospital was dominated by systems and behavioural management rather than understanding and treating her autism," Marjorie said.

It was only last year and after her parents insisted on an assessment that Laura at the age of 40 was diagnosed with autism.

In her parent's back garden, a smiling Laura is listening to Adele and wearing her favourite colour red.

Laura clearly has learning disabilities and at times challenging behaviour, but she is also a young woman who loved playing badminton and who attempted to communicate through touching hands and smiling.

Her parents said it's a different picture from her days in Muckamore which confined her development and progress.

"Life could have been so different for Laura - over the years at Muckamore all they did was change the medication - they didn't treat her autism.

"The staff, including management, didn't listen to us as parents, instead they said Laura made up allegations of abuse when we know she didn't.

"How did she spend over 17 years in a hospital and no-one ever diagnosed what was wrong?" Marjorie asks.

The PSNI said they have reported 124 people to the Public Prosecution Service (PPS).

The PPS has so far directed prosecution for 58 people who are at various stages through the court process.

To date three have been prosecuted, two cautioned and one case dismissed at court.

One hundred and ninety two staff were screened by the Belfast Health Trust investigating panel.

Of those:

• 19 were dismissed or sacked
• 64 referred to the Nursing and Midwifery Council – unclear how many have lost their registration
• 24 referred to the Northern Ireland Social Care Council
• 52 cases remain outstanding as they await investigation

Others have left voluntarily with no case to answer.

Like so many parents caught up in the Muckamore scandal, Mark and Marjorie blame themselves for not listening to their child, and for not shouting louder to Belfast health trust management and the police to deal with what was going on at Muckamore.

Mark said they've lost faith in Northern Ireland's social care system but will keep an open mind until they read the report's findings and recommendations.

The couple said during the inquiry there were moments of hope when their legal team spoke up for those with no voice.

They recall the opening day when the families' barrister, Conor Maguire KC, said: "What seemed appropriate at the top, masked what was festering at the bottom.

"Who in senior positions knew about the abuse and what measures did they take or fail to take to stop it?

"The abuse perpetrated on patients was widespread and in the open."

The couple have many unanswered questions.

"We ask ourselves what happened to our daughter in that hospital - she was admitted at 16 and labelled a cheeky and disobedient child," Mark said.

"We were struggling as parents and looking for help, we trusted the professionals but never did anyone discuss autism, anxiety or that Laura felt overwhelmed.

"We now know that Laura is autistic with challenging behaviours - looking back we wonder if they got it wrong from the very beginning."