3 January 2019

Brighton Magistrates’ Court
The Law Courts, Brighton BN2 0LG
9 January 2019 

From 2pm in court 8 (not 10am as previously listed)
  
Following a criminal investigation conducted by the Health and Safety Executive, a prosecution has been brought against the Priory Group for offences under Section 3 (1) of the Health and Safety Act in relation to the death of Amy El-Keria. 
 
On Wednesday 9 January the Priory will go before a District Judge in Brighton Magistrates’ Court in the first public hearing of the case. This hearing was initially due to take place on the 29 November 2018 but was adjourned due to a court administrative error. 
 
Amy was a much loved 14 year old, with complex needs associated with multiple mental health diagnoses. She died whilst she was an NHS funded patient in a specialist children’s unit at Ticehurst House in East Sussex, a private psychiatric hospital run by the Priory Group.
 
Amy was found unresponsive with a ligature in her locked hospital room on 12 November 2012 and was pronounced dead the following day. An inquest jury in 2016 found neglect by the Priory had contributed to Amy’s death.
 
Amy’s family will be making a statement at the end of the hearing.

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS:

For further information, please contact INQUEST on 020 7263 1111 or email [email protected] 
 
INQUEST has been working with the family of Amy El-Keria since shortly after her death. Amy’s family are represented by INQUEST Lawyers Group members Tony Murphy, Bhatt Murphy solicitors and Raj Desai of Matrix Chambers.
 
The charges have been brought by the Health and Safety Executive, the UK government agency responsible for the regulation and enforcement of workplace health, safety and welfare.
 
The charges are in relation to a possible breach of section 3 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, which states “It shall be the duty of every employer to conduct his undertaking in such a way as to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that persons not in his employment who may be affected thereby are not thereby exposed to risks to their health or safety.”
 
The inquest into Amy’s death concluded on 2nd June 2016 – see the media release for more information.