Lucy Letby ‘boyfriend’ doctor identified as court order lifted

Trial sheds light on Letby ‘boyfriend’

The doctor in question worked alongside Letby at the Countess of Chester Hospital during the period in which she murdered seven babies.

Mark Deakin, who died in July, aged 53, was married with children and continued working in medicine after leaving the hospital.

Reports have claimed that Deakin died shortly after discovering he had been dismissed from his position after breaching patient confidentiality through text message exchanges with Letby.

It is understood that he had also been unwell.

Mark Deakin. Credit: Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health

An inquest into the circumstances surrounding Deakin’s death is now expected to take place, while an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding Letby’s crimes is due to publish its findings half way through this month.

The inquiry heard that Deakin and Letby exchanged more than 1,000 messages, while Deakin also helped Letby secure a placement at Alder Hey.

All of this took place after growing concerns had already emerged about the deaths of babies at the Countess of Chester.

Deakin told the inquiry that he had been “misled” and “maybe manipulated” by Letby.

He reportedly said that he had been tricked into providing information about babies she had attacked, later describing his decision to help her as a “massive mistake.”

During Letby’s criminal trial, which became the longest murder trial in British history, Deakin was granted anonymity.

This meant he gave testimony from behind a screen that prevented journalists, members of the public, and Letby, from seeing him.

When Deakin first entered the witness box, Letby burst into tears, marking one of the first visible displays of emotion from her throughout the lengthy trial.

Letby, who has always maintained her innocence, is serving 15 whole-life prison terms, while the Criminal Cases Review Commission is currently reviewing her convictions