Newcastle neighbour of poison GP's mum tells of shock at bizarre attempted murder of her partner
Colin Falcus has told of his shock at hearing of bizarre murder attempt carried out above his home in Newcastle City Centre
by Sophie Doughty · ChronicleLiveA neighbour of the mum of poison plot doctor Thomas Kwan has spoken of his shock after the bizarre attempted murder was carried out
Colin Falcus lived in the flat below Wai King Leung and her partner, was her son's victim on the plot Patrick O'Hara in Newcastle City Centre. Kwan, who worked as a GP in Sunderland is awaiting sentence after sensationally admitting trying to kill Mr O'Hara, as he stood trial at Newcastle Crown Court.
Today Colin, who lives below the flat where the shamed medic carried out his bizarre plan, has told of his shock at hearing what went on above him.
The 64-year-old said: "It's a funny feeling when it's happened above you. We are in the same building. It's bizarre to think he did that here. I have never heard anything like it."
Hospital porter Colin, who lived underneath Ms Leung and Mr O'Hara for around 10 years told the Chronicle that they were a normal friendly couple. Ms Leung, who was known to friends as Jenny, worked in Marks and Spencer, while Mr O'Hara had worked away until he retired around six years ago.
"I have lived underneath them for 10 years. They were just a normal couple," he said, "He kind of kept himself to himself. He was retired. I know he went away to work and just came back periodically. Then he was here every day after finishing work.
"If she had anything in the house she didn't need she would bring it down. She was a really generous lady."
As Kwan's trial got underway Newcastle Crown Court heard how the GP spent months meticulously planning his audacious plot to target Mr O'Hara, who he saw as an obstacle to receiving his inheritance should anything happen to his mum. After tricking his 71-year-old victim, with faked NHS letters, into believing a community nurse would be coming to his home to give him a Covid booster jab Kwan donned a disguise, which included a wig, fake facial hair and a mask and went to the home himself.
Once inside the property, on St Thomas Street, Kwan injected Mr O'Hara with a substance that caused a flesh-eating disease and left him in intensive care.
The court was told Kwan left home in a Toyota Yaris which had been fitted with false registration plates, on the morning of January 22 this year. He arrived at The Gate car park in Newcastle at 2.31am and booked into The Premier Inn under the name John Chan.
After he arrived at his mother's home Mr O'Hara was taken through a medical questionnaire and had his blood pressure checked and some blood taken. Kwan even took his own mother's blood pressure, at her request.
Kwan then said he would give Mr O'Hara a Covid booster, at which point he felt immediate pain and Kwan quickly left. Mr O'Hara began to suspect something was very wrong as the pain in his arm increased. He was given antibiotics and painkillers at the Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI) and sent home. When he awoke the next morning he found his arm was blistering and seriously discoloured. His GP sent him back to the hospital immediately, suspecting possible sepsis.
Doctors were baffled as to the cause of what they realised was a rare and life-threatening flesh-eating disease. Mr O'Hara had surgery to try to stem the spread of the infection by cutting away "very considerable portions" diseased flesh on his arm in repeated procedures. He ended up spending weeks in intensive care.
Meanwhile a police investigation had begun and Kwan was traced on CCTV leaving his mother's home, heading back to the hotel then eventually home, having stopped for something to eat at Greggs. He was arrested and as his home, in Ingleby Barwick, Stockton, was searched officers found an array of toxic, corrosive, hazardous or flammable chemicals including liquid mercury, thallium, sulphuric acid and arsenic, in a detached garage at the premises.
It is still unclear exactly what Mr O'Hara was injected with. Kwan later said it was iodomethane, which is sometimes called methyl iodide and is commonly called “Mel”, which is used predominantly as a fumigant pesticide, the court was told
Police also recovered various items from a hard drive at Kwan's home, including a video about how to produce iodomethane, a PDF copy of police guidance on murder investigations and a fake ID document showing Kwan in disguise.
Kwan, of Brading Court, Ingleby Barwick, who had previously pleaded guilty to administering a noxious substance, was remanded in custody and will be sentenced later this month.
Colin said he had been at work at the RVI when Kwan carried out his plan. He later discovered his neighbour was in intensive care at the same hospital. "He's been really lucky", said Colin.
The prosecution said its case was that the attempted murder was motivated by "financial gain". And Colin agrees.
"It's nothing but sheer greed, what else could it be," he said. "He's been a GP, he's got his own house, he's obviously got money. All he wanted was to get all the money if something happened to Jenny.
"He's going to get a long time."
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