LUCY LETBY’S “MYSTERY DOCTOR” FINALLY NAMED — AND THE NEW REVELATIONS ARE RAISING FRESH QUESTIONS

For years, the doctor who became one of the most talked-about figures surrounding Lucy Letby’s case could only be referred to anonymously in court. Now, following his death, his identity has finally been revealed.

His name was Dr. Mark Deakin.

The 53-year-old consultant pediatrician worked alongside Lucy Letby at the Countess of Chester Hospital during the period when she was convicted of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder seven others.

During Letby’s trial, Deakin was protected by an anonymity order and was referred to as “Dr A” and “Dr U.”

That protection has now been lifted following his death, allowing his name to be reported publicly for the first time.

THE DOCTOR AT THE CENTER OF LETBY’S ATTENTION

Deakin was a married father of two who worked with Letby in the hospital’s neonatal unit.

The prosecution previously presented evidence suggesting that Letby had developed a strong attachment to him.

During the trial, prosecutors argued that Letby may have deliberately created medical emergencies involving babies in order to attract Deakin’s attention.

Letby denied the allegations and has maintained that she did not harm the babies.

Deakin himself gave evidence during the trial from behind a screen because of the anonymity order.

He acknowledged having a close relationship with Letby but denied knowing about the concerns surrounding her at the time.

MORE THAN 1,300 FACEBOOK MESSAGES

One of the most striking details to emerge was the sheer volume of communication between the pair.

Reports say Deakin exchanged more than 1,300 Facebook messages with Letby.

Some of those messages reportedly involved confidential information about babies being treated at the hospital.

One baby discussed in the exchanges was Baby N, whom Letby was convicted of attempting to murder.

Deakin later faced disciplinary action over his conduct, including inappropriate access to medical information and his role in facilitating Letby’s visits to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital.

HE HELPED ARRANGE LETBY’S HOSPITAL VISITS

In December 2016, several months after Letby had been removed from clinical duties at the Countess of Chester Hospital amid concerns raised by senior doctors, Deakin arranged for her to make observational visits to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital.

At that point, Letby was no longer working clinically.

Deakin had moved to Alder Hey and was later investigated over his conduct involving Letby and confidential patient information.

The circumstances surrounding those visits became another significant part of the evidence examined during the wider investigation into the case.

THEN CAME THE SHOCKING NEWS OF HIS DEATH

Deakin died in 2026 at the age of 53.

Reports say he was found unconscious in his car after being dismissed from his position at Alder Hey following disciplinary proceedings.

He was taken to hospital but later died.

An inquest into his death is ongoing.

Because Deakin had been protected by an anonymity order during Letby’s trial, his identity could not previously be published.

Following his death, the Court of Appeal ruled that the justification for maintaining the anonymity order no longer applied and allowed him to be named.

LETBY REMAINS IN PRISON

Lucy Letby, now 36, remains in prison serving 15 whole-life orders.

Her convictions currently stand.

She was convicted in 2023 of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder six others. At a retrial in 2024, she was convicted of an additional attempted murder, bringing the total number of attempted-murder convictions to seven.

The Crown Prosecution Service confirmed in August 2026 that a review of six additional potential attempted-murder charges had upheld its earlier decision not to bring further charges.

Meanwhile, Letby’s case remains under review by the Criminal Cases Review Commission, which is examining an application concerning her convictions.

That review does not itself mean that her convictions have been overturned.

THE THIRLWALL REPORT IS DAYS AWAY

Another major development is approaching.

The Thirlwall Inquiry, established to examine the events at the Countess of Chester Hospital and the wider implications following Letby’s convictions, is scheduled to publish its final report on September 15, 2026.

The inquiry has examined how concerns about Letby were handled, what hospital leaders knew, and the circumstances surrounding the deaths and collapses of babies at the hospital.

Families affected by the case have been waiting for the report for years.

Its publication could provide the most comprehensive official assessment yet of what happened at the hospital — and whether warning signs were missed.

A CASE THAT STILL HAS UNANSWERED QUESTIONS

The naming of Mark Deakin has reopened attention on a previously hidden part of the Lucy Letby story.

The doctor once known only as “Dr A” was a colleague, a close correspondent and a key figure in evidence presented during Letby’s trial.

Now, with his identity public and the Thirlwall Inquiry report approaching, renewed attention is being focused on the relationships, decisions and institutional failures surrounding one of Britain’s most notorious hospital cases.

Lucy Letby’s convictions remain in force.

But with a major inquiry report due within days and her case still under review, the story surrounding the former neonatal nurse is far from disappearing.

And the question now gripping the public is not simply what happened to the babies — but what the institutions around them knew, when they knew it, and whether more could have been done.