Families of victims of Gosport War Memorial Hospital scandal to get update on police investigation
The lives of more than 450 people had been shortened because of the routine use of opioids
Relatives of hundreds of people who died at Gosport War Memorial Hospital are hoping for answers, as they get an update from police on the investigation.
Detectives working on what has been called 'Operation Magenta' are holding the meeting this afternoon.
In 2023 police confirmed that the number of suspects being interviewed had risen to 29.
A report in 2018 found the lives of more than 450 people had been shortened because of the routine use of administering opioids at the hospital until the year 2000.
Robert Logan's father, Robert Wilson, was one of the patients who died.
He said: "It's been very frustrating there have been many inquiries that have not got anywhere. But we are not giving up. I am the same age now as my father was when he died, and he died in 2018.
"Many of the people campaigning for justice have now died and it's younger people in their families taking up the banner. We will not give up on this."
A lawyer representing the families will hold a meeting in Gosport immediately after the update from police.
Emma Jones, Leigh Day Human Rights Team Partner said:
"Families deserve to have the deaths of their loved ones properly investigated. In Gosport, families have been waiting more than a decade for answers over how this scale of tragedy could have occurred. My clients are still waiting for Operation Magenta to end, and we still believe the concerning number of deaths can only be managed through a judge-led inquest, similar to Hillsborough.
"I look forward to having a meeting with the coroner at the earliest opportunity.”
Emma's clients are keen to know what any progress in Operation Magenta will mean for the inquests into the deaths of their loved ones.
In 2023 the High Court confirmed that following applications by Emma Jones, three fresh inquests will take place into the deaths of Arthur Denis Brian Cunningham, Gladys Mabel Richards and Robert Wilson who all died at Gosport War Memorial Hospital in Hampshire in 1998.
Emma also represents the families of six other people who died at Gosport Hospital, who have been successful in securing inquests into their deaths.
These deaths had never been examined by a coroner previously.
The inquests were opened by Coroner Christopher Wilkinson and immediately adjourned pending the outcome of Operation Magenta, the Kent and Essex police investigation that opened in 2019.