Some Stepping Hill Deaths "Natural Causes"
23 January 2012, 07:22 | Updated: 30 March 2016, 13:50
A total of six people deliberately poisoned with insulin at Stepping Hill have now died,but police say they are treating the three recent deaths differently to those who died last summer.
It has been confirmed this week that 60 year old Linda McDonagh died on Saturday 14th January 2012.
Her family paid tribute calling her a wonderful and selfless mother and a beautiful person.
It has also been confirmed that 73 year old John Beeley, who was known as Jack, died on Friday 20th January 2012.
Jack has been described as a well known local character from the Heaton Norris area of Stockport and an avid Liverpool fan who will be sadly missed by his four sisters and family.
82 year old Bill Dickson died on New Year's Eve.
All six were among 21 people believed to have been unlawfully administered insulin at Stepping Hill Hospital.
Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Superintendent Simon Barraclough, said: “It is really important that we differentiate between the deaths of Tracey Arden, Arnold Lancaster and Derek Weaver - who died shortly after being poisoned - and the three subsequent deaths.
“We believe insulin may have played more than a minimal part in the deaths of Tracy, Arnold and Derek.
“While we are continuing to undertake stringent tests into the deaths of all six patients, we believe that it is highly likely the later deaths should more properly be attributed to natural disease.
“Due to the complexity of the medical conditions presented by all those who were poisoned and have since died, we have engaged the help of a team of highly experienced experts who continue to carry out comprehensive testing.
“It must be emphasised that it is for HM Coroner to ultimately determine the causes of death and while we are doing all we can to get to a conclusion as soon as possible it is likely this process could take several more months.”
