AN inquest into the death of Dr Mark Deakin, the consultant paediatrician who became a key figure in the Lucy Letby case, will formally open in Warrington later this month.
An opening hearing into the death of Dr Deakin has been listed for 9am on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, at Cheshire Coroner’s Court in Warrington.
The hearing follows an order made by Lord Justice Singh on September 2, which lifted anonymity orders that had previously prevented Dr Deakin from being publicly identified in connection with related civil proceedings.
Dr Deakin, 53, had been known as “Dr A” during the trial of former neonatal nurse Lucy Letby, who was convicted of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder seven others at the Countess of Chester Hospital. He had been granted anonymity when he gave evidence during Letby’s trial.
The lifting of the reporting restrictions followed his death earlier this year.
No evidence will be heard. The September 23 hearing is an opening hearing rather than the full inquest.
Its purpose will be to formally open the inquest, begin the process of gathering evidence about Dr Deakin’s death and set a date for the full inquest.
The circumstances surrounding his death have attracted considerable attention because of his involvement in the Letby case and events which subsequently emerged during the Thirlwall Inquiry.
Dr Deakin worked alongside Letby at the Countess of Chester Hospital. Dr Deakin subsequently worked at Alder Hey Childrens Hospital.
He faced a disciplinary process earlier this year and was dismissed for gross misconduct on June 23, according to reports. He was subsequently found unconscious in his car and died in hospital on July 3, aged 53.
The precise circumstances and cause of his death have not been established publicly and are matters for the Coroner’s investigation.
