UK covid Inquiry Day 2 so far. We have heard from ⁦COPNI⁩ & ⁦Irish Congress (ICTU)⁩ bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northe…

. UK Covid-19 Inquiry & Irish Congress (ICTU) Gerry Murphy says in those initial stages no one formally reached out to them to advise or to seek guidance &that they weren’t involved in planning. He said they were informed as decisions played out. The voice of the worker “wasn’t fed in”.

. @copni said there was a feeling hospitals were “cleared” of older people to make ready for patients. He said guidance for care homes was too late. A nice touch from Chair Baroness Hallett at the end when she told Eddie Lynch to “keep banging the drum.”

. UK Covid-19 Inquiry the COPNI has told the inquiry that it was “reckless” to discharge older people from hospital into care homes without testing at start of the pandemic. He said a meeting with DOH on March 16 officials were unable to address many issues regarding care homes.

Covid inquiry to hear from ex-top civil servant who said some Stormont ministers ‘found wanting’ during the pandemic. Coverage across ⁦BBC News NI⁩ ⁦BBC Radio Ulster⁩ ⁦BBC Newsline⁩ throughout today. ⁦Marie-Louise Connolly⁩ ⁦Aileen Moynagh⁩ bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northe…

Correction: according to counsel to the inquiry it was the deputy FM who in a NI situation report on 3 April 2020 had “criticised the health minister’s handling of the outbreak.

Covid Inquiry day 1:
The lack of political respect felt between some politicians and the extent of how that impacted on keeping the public safe was laid bare. A full round up and analysis. ⁦BBC News NI⁩ bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northe…

'A shocking statistic' bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-n… via BBC News (UK)

. UK Covid-19 Inquiry hears that due to how NI records data it’s still unclear how many older people died with covid-19. Counsel for COPNI says impt data is inaccurate here which affects future planning. Also revealed by Feb 21 983 deaths in care homes.

. UK Covid-19 Inquiry hears that greater number of deaths was amongst process plant and machine operatives says Irish Congress (ICTU) The inquiry is told of the unequal impact of CV-19 and those in lower paid roles.

. UK Covid-19 Inquiry hears that disabled people were lost in pandemic decision making. “ voices were lost in the noise or worse simply ignored in the confusion and panic that was unfolding” the inquiry hears. Also that NI is “ fundamentally bad at collecting data.”

. UK Covid-19 Inquiry As it breaks for lunch legal teams have laid bare NI was not ready for the pandemic; the political infighting affected decision making; Robin Swann felt marginalised ; the CMo Sir Micael McBide referred to the NI Executive as “dysfunctional bastards”.

. UK Covid-19 Inquiry hears that in an exchange between himself and the Robin Swann , the CMO Sir Michael McBride referred to NI Executive as “dysfunctional bastards”, see direct quote below.

.UK Covid-19 Inquiry hears that the NI Executive failed to come together as a single collective response. Lead counsel Clair Dobbin asks was it fair that Arlene Foster DBE PC #ProudofNI. criticised Robin Swann if he had been acting on the advice of NI’s Chief medical officer. ?

. UK Covid-19 Inquiry What’s coming through in blue lights - is the lack of preparedness in NI and how NI had no modelling capacity for a pandemic, no membership of SAGE Cttee, & an “underestimation of the speed and scale of what was unfolding.”.

. UK Covid-19 Inquiry probes NI’s unique political situation and asks how much it hampered decision making . Inquiry hears how Robin Swann had no ministerial colleagues in Executive &how he felt “marginalised”. The fragility of power sharing had an impact the inquiry is told.

. UK Covid-19 Inquiry This woman says she doesn’t know whether they buried their daddy as the coffin was closed.

. UK Covid-19 Inquiry This woman said goodbye to her mum through ICU window. She said she cried uncontrollably. #Covid_19

Covid Inquiry starts with an impact video. Joanne tells us that “community carers were few and far between.” UK Covid-19 Inquiry

Covid inquiry. Martina Ferguson speaks outside to the media before inquiry starts. She says families weren’t aware of DNR notes if loved ones hospital notes. UK Covid-19 Inquiry