‘Killer nurse’ claim review
Monday 23rd March 2009, 3:00PM GMT.
THE States police are reviewing the files of an alleged potential mass murderer who worked as a ward nurse at Jersey’s General Hospital.
Almost ten years ago to the day that investigating police officers raised serious concerns that the male nurse could have killed 13 patients – and possibly more – officers are reopening the case.
Their move follows claims made on the internet blog of Senator Stuart Syvret, who has published police reports and court documents from the time.
The former Health Minister is alleging that despite strong police evidence and recommendations that the nurse should have been investigated for alleged mass murder, the case was dropped by the then Attorney General, Michael Birt, who will take over as the Island’s Bailiff in June.
• Picture: Ten years ago there were fears that a nurse could have killed 13 people at the General Hospital
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Without Sen S Syvret the island would be kept in the dark! This story is shocking.
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I can’t understand why this was overlooked at the time. What is going on?
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Yet another shocking revelation !!
Would Michael Birt please make it known why the matter was dropped ten years ago and why has it taken so long for the file to be re opened.If MB is to become Bailiff then he ought to clarify his position straight away.
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I think Syvret is a liability, what gives him the right to publish such a sensitive report with the name of the guy?
I think its appalling.
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Wasn’t Stuart Syvret in charge of Health at that time? What did he do about it? Why wait until now? He seems to want to make accusations but clearly has no interest in managing the states or being accountable for his actions.
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Too little too late I think. Are the police honestly going to admit that maybe there was a case that should have been taken further at this very late stage of the game.
I suspect not, and I would not be at all surprised if this was all swept under that carpet which must have a lot of dirt under it at the moment!
Stuart Syvret has been very brave to bring this to the public’s attention whatever the outcome.
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Very very worrying indeed, but D.C.I. David Minty says the police are reviewing the case and see if there is any NEW evidence to jusify pursuing it any further. I would have thought the evidence originally produced by D.I. Faudemer which i think is a very thorough and professional investigation. As i see it the scariest part of this story is WHY was it not persued further?
So often we read that the police submit what they consider is enough evidence to make a case and the plug is pulled with the usual excuse “it isn’t in the public interest”
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Which is the more sinister, a potential mass murderer or an alleged potential mass murderer?
I wouldn’t care to be a potential alleged mass murderer – thats for sure.
Bit like being around in the days of alleged potential witches.
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Who said it was overlooked at the time? Who said it wasn’t fully investigated and a rational decision made not to prosecute due to a lack of admissable evidence? Oh, yes the conspiracists on Planet Syvret…..
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yet again another example of either incompetence or corruption or both in our goverment process
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How many millions can be wasted on this enquiry to discover nothing more than was discovered 10 years ago
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Hey Guys here we go again. Syvret is on the run another HDG fiasco all over again & guess what we the tax payer will be paying for it.
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Protecting the international reputation of the finance industry is more important than the local residents how are expendable.
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Well we know where Senator Syvret’s last sensational claims went so I think we can expect this to be found to be a storm in a teacup.
Is it not possible that this was investigated ten years ago and the conclusion was that there was either no case or not one that could result in a conviction?!
But I suspect the Senator would prefer conspiracy to mundane reality.
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The police will reopen the files, pretend to look at them, perhaps interview a few witnesses over a month or so. Then close the files and say there is no new evidence. ZZZzzzzzzzz
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Kate (12)- Better spent than on Waterfronts/overspends on incinerators/extra promoting a tourism industry that won’t take off/swish new office blocks that remain unoccupied/ abbatoir site etc., etc.
Do I need to go on?
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This is like a Carry-On film.
How many old police reports is Syvret going to pull out from the past and demand action I wonder? Until we know the full story of the outcome of the last one I wish he would stop meddling with judicial issues.
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Syvret only seems to release information when it suits him and not the island. This all happened on his watch anyway just like the last sensation.
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another black spot for the island…what is happening to the place? shock stories,bad goverment, disfunctional police force…what next?
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Why wasn’t this guy taken to court ten years ago?
Why is it that the news has to be sort out on Stuart’s blog? Where are the media blood hounds in all this?
It is as if we have a news black out over here, just like in the days of the occupation. Why is this?
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This is like a repeat of the Bergerac series.
Whilst the Bergerac series brought fame and welcome attention to the island, these revelations destroy the Island. What other issues lie awaiting exposure is of course the other question?
Given the extraordinary decision making that the Islands leadership continually demonstrate do we now also face the prospect of an ex detective being recalled to the Island to help manage the PR and media relationships for this latest revelation? If this was a Bergerac series we would of course expect John Nettles back…
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I noticed one of the aspects that worries people is that this nurse gave advice on suicide methods to a terminally ill patient. Whilst this is alarming in itself, put it into perspective against our CURRENT health minister telling our former health minister to go and kill himself. We have an uncaring, cynical regime in Jersey that is focused on money and the pursuit of it.
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“Wasn’t Stuart Syvret in charge of Health at that time? What did he do about it? Why wait until now? He seems to want to make accusations but clearly has no interest in managing the states or being accountable for his actions.”
Go and read Senator Stuart Syvret’s Blog
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ex – D.I.Barry Faudemer was a very thorough and capable investigator. D.C.I. Minty is unlikely to find anything new after all this time. The problem probably lies with the Crown Officers who have a history of being over cautious. Let us hope this doesn’t end up as another time consuming and expensive investigation that gets knocked back by the A.G.
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Sensational……here come the hoards of media again!!
Maybe that’s the ploy, reporters and journalists can accommodate the almost obsolete hotels of the island! What a tourist boom!!
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Very scary stuff…will we ever get to know why this case was not investigated further.
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It would be nice if people could get over their all-consuming dislike of Stuart Syvret and focus on the actual issue.In this particular case it would be a good idea if Michael Birt could explain the reason/s why he instructed the case to be dropped as it would appear the police were keen on pursuing it.That surely would be a good starting point.
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Why was this not put before a court and jury to decide at the time if there was a case to answer?
This would have drawn a line under the matter ten years ago.
What we are left with is suspicion and uncertainty.
If only we dealt with things properly when they happened life would be so much easier and honest.
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It is obvious that Mr Birt must first explain to the Jersey people why he instructed the case to be dropped. This can be tne only starting point. The police then must review the case if they have any doubt what-so-ever. Stop getting on Syvrets back as he is bringing things into the open we would never know about. If Mr Birt was wrong in dropping this case then I suggest he does not even consider taking on the Bailiffs role.
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He is bringing things out in the open when it suits him.
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The Turks and Caicos Islands, a British Overseas Territory, has just had its government suspended and direct rule by their Governor imposed by the UK government because of corruption and incompetence. Having read the police report into this incident on Sen. Syvret’s website – which I strongly recommend everyone does – I believe that it can’t be very long before the UK has to step in here too.
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Having just wasted 10 minutes reading Senator Syvrets blog it is worth pointing out that this does not contain the police report but a supposed transcription of it. I cannot see if there were other parts of the report that weren’t included. I cannot see any response from the AG. I can’t see whether the police or the officer in question ever did any follow up, or made any further submissions to the AG. To take a single (not original) document in isolation and invent a conspiracy is ridiculous and grotesque.
What I do see is Senator Syvret flouting an individual’s rights to privacy – this person hasn’t been convicted of any crime but his name is now plastered over the internet whilst his anonymous accusers are referred to as Nurse A and Nurse B.
I hope I don’t end up on Senator Syvrets “Public Enemies” list…
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Bruce
Yeah because you can believe everything that Syvret writes! It’s an entertaining laugh at best and damaging at worst. So far he’s cost the tax payer £10m and we’ve very little to show for it. Might I also remind you that he was in charge of the department when all was apparently said and done.
As for taking over the government when is one going to step in and remove the corrupt UK government and House of Lords?
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Freedom of information is the way forward.
How can we learn from the mistakes in our political system if we are never allowed to know about them.
We will always need whistle blowers if we have secrets.
If there was a freedom of information act and this information would become public domain after a set amount of time, the argument could be made to wait.
Imagine this, we will not be allowed access to the information gathered by the investigation resulting from the leaked report.
So it will always look like a cover up.
How is it possible that politicians can tell us we the general public can not be trusted with the information they use to make decisions on our behalf.
In a government with no freedom of information act there will always be the need for leaks like this.
I thank Stuart and people like him who realise it is necessary and do it.
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Yet another story of the politicians and police brushing something they don’t like under the carpet and hope it never comes out. Good old Jersey. I agree Syvret shouldn’t have plastered the name all over the net and yeah he’s timing isn’t the best seeing as Haute de La Garenne hasn’t been wrapped up (at least the victims can actually get on with their lifes now). Rather then worrying about how we look to the rest of the world surely it’s better to deal with things when they happen and admit that Jersey isn’t as perfect as they want everyone (including themselves). As in the case of Haute de La Garenne Jersey now looks like it’s run by a bunch of half wits. Oh wait Jersey is run by a bunch of half wits!
I do wonder what Syvret is gaining from this.
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Bernard, forget about the timing, at least he reveals the info – when would have the abuse been revealed and by whom, if not syvret?
they’re all too busy not poking their heads above the establishment parapet
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I will write this very slowly so that even those who live on Planet Syvret can understand it… There is no coverup. We do not imprison people because Syvret says we should. The police investigate allegations and complaints all the time. We have a quaint little old custom here, as in many jurisdictions, that says people are innocent until proven guilty. Note, it does not say innocent until Syvret says you are guilty… The police will gather any available evidence, only some of which may be admissable in a court of law. The head of the prosecution service (here, the AG) must make an informed decision, on the basis of the evidence, whether it will sustain a prosecution. This is the same as the UK and every other developed jurisdiction. It would be quite inappropriate for police to publicise any case they are investigating, many of which are malicious and/or completely groundless. Is this just too dificult for the Syvret worshippers to understand?
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Hello Euan
I’m one of those “Syvret Worshippers” and I’m so please for you that you trust the judgement of the Attorney General at that time and who now is Bailiff in waiting, this sums up “the Jersey way” one time Lawyer bring prosecutions in the name of the States, then swiftly moves on to heading the Judiciary and Speaker of the States, which at the moment both posts are covered by the Brothers Bailhache but that’s other story.
As with most things before make sweeping statements like you have Euan, please get your facts right as with almost all Syryet bashers they blindly lash out at anything he says.
With regard to the leaked report as far as I aware this was just an initial report to lead on to further investigations and it was this that the A.G. Birt Blocked.
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Thank you Euan for condescending to explain that very complicated arrangement to us mere mortals – but you haven’t dealt with the central point – if not Senator Syvret, quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
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Euan mee IF there are cover ups how is one to know what is going on unless someone spills the beans? How do you know there have been no cover ups, and why do you trust those with the most to lose if evidence was found to the contrary?
I trust no one or anyone in authority as they have the potential to lie, just like anyone else. However if an ordinary person lies they have a good chance of being found out and prosecuted.
What happens if someone in a position of authority lies and has the ability to stop any investigations? What happens then?
Remember the UK government lied to the British public with reference to the war on terror and hence the invasion is illegal. Why has no one been prosecuted for this? What other lies are we subjected to that no one ever finds out about? We will never know unless someone tells us will we?
Anyone who believes anyone else at face value doesn’t know much about human nature I’m afraid.
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Adrian
You should apply your cynicism to Syvret as well.
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“How do I know there have been no cover ups, Adrian?” For the same reason I don’t believe in the Tooth Fairy. I have never seen any evidence of the Tooth Fairy, or any cover ups. Still, why let the truth get in the way of a Syvret conspiracy theory?
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