Killer nurse Lucy Letby's doctor 'boyfriend' who died suddenly after being sacked named for first time

Mark Deakin, a 53-year-old consultant and married father of two, has been identified as the man who was once described as Lucy Letby’s “doctor boyfriend.” Deakin died suddenly in June after being dismissed from his position at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool. His death came just days after he was sacked for exchanging confidential messages with Letby, the nurse who was later convicted of murdering seven infants and attempting to kill seven others between 2015 and 2016. Deakin was found collapsed in his car the day after his termination. He was rushed to intensive care but succumbed to his condition nine days later. During Letby’s trial, Deakin was granted anonymity, but the Court of Appeal recently lifted the restriction on reporting his identity following his death. The decision was made after an application from the Daily Mail’s legal team. Lord Justice Singh acknowledged the family’s objections but stated that the principle of open justice and the right of the media to report on court proceedings outweighed the need for continued anonymity. Deakin had worked alongside Letby at the Countess of Chester Hospital, where she was employed as a neonatal nurse. Their professional relationship became the subject of scrutiny when it emerged that Deakin had sent numerous messages to Letby discussing a premature baby boy with haemophilia, known as Baby N. Letby was later convicted of attempting to kill Baby N shortly after his birth in June 2016. The messages exchanged between Deakin and Letby were deemed a breach of patient confidentiality and formed part of the evidence presented during Letby’s trial. During the disciplinary process at Alder Hey, Deakin faced allegations that he had arranged multiple observational visits for Letby, despite concerns about her conduct. These visits occurred after Letby had been moved from frontline nursing to an administrative role due to growing suspicions surrounding unexplained infant deaths. Deakin reportedly supported Letby’s grievance against the hospital regarding this transfer. At Letby’s trial, she denied that their relationship was anything other than a friendship. However, prosecutors argued that the volume and nature of their communications, exceeding 1,300 Facebook messages, indicated a romantic involvement. Prosecuting counsel Nick Johnson KC suggested that Letby’s actions were influenced by her feelings for Deakin, as she allegedly targeted babies knowing he would be the one called to assist them in emergencies. Evidence uncovered during police searches of Letby’s home included personal messages referring to Deakin as “sweetie” and “love,” along with handwritten notes containing his name and heart symbols. These items were presented as proof of the emotional bond between the two individuals. Deakin’s employment history at Alder Hey came under further review after Letby’s conviction. An internal investigation found that Deakin had a close working relationship with Letby and may have been aware of the concerns raised by her colleagues about her behavior. Despite this, he facilitated her visits to Alder Hey in 2017, allowing her to accompany him on ward rounds and attend medical events related to insulin, a substance she was later found to have used in attempts to harm her victims. The disciplinary hearing in June concluded that Deakin had violated patient confidentiality and failed to act appropriately given the context of Letby’s suspected misconduct. As a result, he was dismissed for gross misconduct on June 23. Relatives reported him missing the following day, and he was discovered unconscious in his vehicle near a retail park approximately 20 miles from his home in Cheshire. Deakin’s sudden death has reignited interest in the case of Lucy Letby, who is currently serving a 15-year whole-life term for her crimes. A public inquiry into the incidents at the Countess of Chester Hospital is set to conclude its findings later this month, with Lady Justice Thirlwall scheduled to present her report.