10 September 2023 , 18:48
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Seven candles were lit at Chester Cathedral in a moving ceremony to remember the victims who perished at the hands of nurse Lucy Letby.
Each candle on the altar of the central nave represented one of the babies she was found guilty of killing after a ten month trial. Another tall candle stood alone at the side of the altar - lit to represent other babies whose deaths may yet be laid at her door.
In a moving Service of Lament, Prayer and Hope, around 100 people of all ages sat and prayed in sombre silence for the babies whose chance of life she snatched away. Among the congregation were staff from the nearby Countess of Chester hospital where Letby carried out her sickening crimes.
Included among them were consultants Dr John Gibbs and Dr Ravi Jayaram who both gave evidence against Letby for the prosecution at her trial. Local Labour MP Samantha Dixon also attended.
Letby was convicted of killing seven babies (Chester Standard / SWNS.com)Canon Jane Brooke, the cathedral’s vice dean, said: “We are part of the community and we had to have this service for everyone that cares about what happened. Doctors and nurses from the hospital come here to worship and this service is for them and for everyone. We all care.”
Lucy Letby guilty of murdering 7 babies as Angel of Death faces life sentence
The bishop of Chester, Rt Rev Mark Tanner told the congregation the deaths of the babies had affected everyone. He said: “We have sat in silence, we have wept , we have raged. We are all in different places on this but we are not alone and those children are not alone in the dark. Death is not the end.”
Letby last month received 14 whole life orders for murdering seven babies and attempting to murder six more while working at the Countess of Chester Hospital as a neonatal unit nurse between June 2015 and June 2016. A statutory inquiry led by Lady Justice Thirlwall will lead the inquiry into her crimes.