Dickson Applauds Appointment of Muckamore Public Inquiry Chair

East Antrim Alliance MLA, Stewart Dickson has applauded the appointment of Mr Tom Kark QC as Chair of the Public Inquiry into allegations of abuse at Muckamore Abbey Hospital.

Mr Dickson said: “I was really pleased to hear of this appointment, not only because this is a very important inquiry that needs to be handled sensitively, but also because Mr Kark’s reputation and extensive experience precedes him.”

Mr Kark QC is a highly experienced Queen’s Counsel with significant involvement in medical regulation work and public inquiries. He acted as Senior Counsel to the Public Inquiry into the failures at the Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust under the chairmanship of Robert Francis QC. In 2019 Mr Kark was also instructed by the Minister for Health (England) to examine the working of the Fit and Proper Person test as it was applied to senior executives in the NHS. Mr Kark has sat as a part time Judge (Recorder) since 1999 and has authorisations to hear Appeal cases from the Magistrates Court, cases involving serious sexual offences and also to sit at the Central Criminal Court (Old Bailey).

Additionally, Mr Kark has undertaken training in dealing with, and questioning vulnerable witnesses.

The Department of Health is aiming to get the inquiry fully underway by autumn 2021.