Lucy Letby joked about murder tips in WhatsApp messages, inquiry hears

Child serial killer nurse Lucy Letby once suggested to a colleague that she could provide "tips" on how to commit murder, a public inquiry has heard.

During an exchange of messages in 2017, Letby and union representative Hayley Griffiths discussed the US TV legal drama How to Get Away with Murder.

The WhatsApp conversation took place after Letby had been relegated to clerical duties at the Countess of Chester Hospital following suspicions from consultants that she was deliberately harming babies, and a year before her first arrest by Cheshire Police for multiple murder allegations.

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Griffiths texted Letby stating: "I’m currently watching a programme called how to get away with murder. I’m learning some good tips."

In her chilling response, Letby wrote: "I could have given you some tips x". The dialogue continued with Griffiths saying, "I need someone to practice on to see if I can get away with it," to which Letby responded, "I can think of two people you could practice on and will help you cover it up x".

They even discussed a plan to escape as Griffiths messaged, "Deal. I will get thinking of a plan. Get the cruise booked as our getaway."

Working together in the hospital’s risk and patient safety department at the time, Griffiths confirmed becoming friends with Letby, stating that "quite a lot of us" did. She also acknowledged to the Thirlwall Inquiry that by September 2016, she was aware of the concerns surrounding potential foul play linked to Letby.

Shahram Sharghy, representing some of the victim's families, asked: "Given the severity of the allegations that were made, and would you agree they are possibly the most serious allegations that anybody could make against a healthcare professional, were you making light of those allegations when you were referring to potentially committing a crime? " to which Ms Griffiths replied with a firm "No."

Mr Sharghy continued, "Can you even begin to imagine and put yourself in the position of the families of the babies who were harmed when they see those messages? " A remorseful Ms Griffiths responded, "I know ... I am so remorseful. As soon as I saw them myself I was upset and I can’t begin to imagine...I can only apologise and say I have learned. I can’t go back in time but I have reflected absolutely on it."

Earlier in the proceedings, Ms Griffiths had expressed regret to counsel Rachel Langdale KC stating, "It was nothing more than a conversation. However I truly and deeply regret having started that conservation...this is completely unprofessional, poor judgment on my behalf and completely insensitive. And for that, I can only apologise from the bottom of my heart. ".

The inquiry also reviewed a statement sent by Letby’s parents, John and Susan, to trust executives following the outcome of a grievance complaint Letby raised concerning her removal from the neonatal unit, which was upheld in her favour, prompting hospital chiefs to require the consultants to issue an apology to her.

The Letbys expressed their devastation upon discovering the extent of negative remarks made about their daughter by colleagues: "Whilst it slowly came to light that certain consultants had made comments about her professionally – when we read the grievance report, to say we were shocked to the core is the understatement of the century."

They described the impact of the allegations as a game changer for the family: "As parents the sickening allegations made against our daughter became a game changer."

They shared the agony of being accused by peers: "Our daughter has been to hell and back since July. Can you imagine what it is like to know that colleagues are calling you a murderer?" Reflecting on their daughter's incredulity at the accusations: "She has frequently said to us during the last 4 months ‘I wouldn’t hurt anything let alone a tiny baby’.

"It has broken our hearts especially as we live a hundred miles away and we are so proud of how Lucy has conducted herself and endured this nightmare. I have often said to Lucy ‘how do you keep going’ and she says quite simply ‘because I haven’t done anything wrong’.

"We fear for her health as she has lost weight every time we see her and we can see she is suffering inside. We have yet to see if (she) will suffer any long term psychological damage.

"When any organisation is in trouble it is the person at the top who is taken to task, not the person at the bottom – in this case a young relatively inexperienced Band 5 nurse at the start of her career.

"It does not make sense that Lucy was put in charge of the sickest babies if there were concerns about her dating back to last year.

"We believe that certain consultants have a personal grudge against Lucy and we are at a loss as to understanding why.

"The overlying question that has kept us awake since the day this all started and no one has come up with an answer is ‘Why Lucy? '"

Lucy Letby, aged 34, from Hereford, is currently serving 15 whole-life orders after being found guilty at Manchester Crown Court of the murder of seven infants and the attempted murder of ten others, which includes two attempts on one victim, during a period between June 2015 and June 2016.

The investigation into the case is set to continue until early 2025, with results anticipated to be made public by the late autumn of the same year.