Lucy Letby: Convicted killer nurse described as 'excited' after two babies died, inquiry hears

Letby, who was later found guilty of murdering the infants, made the comment in June 2016, days after the deaths of two triplet boys she was caring for.

Nicola Lightfoot, deputy ward manager at the Countess of Chester Hospital, told the Thirlwall Inquiry that she heard Letby speaking to a colleague after the deaths.

She said: “As I was coming out of the break room, I passed Lucy, who didn’t see me. She was coming out of her unit and greeting a member of the night staff that was coming on, and I heard her say something along the lines of: ‘You’ll never guess what’s happened.’

“The way she said it seemed like she was talking about some sort of exciting event she had witnessed," Lightfoot recalled. "It wasn’t an appropriate response to the death of a child. I have never, and I have never since, seen a response like that from a nurse involved in a patient’s passing."

The inquiry has also heard that Letby, now serving 15 whole-life sentences for the murders of seven babies and the attempted murders of six others, had been described as "cold" and lacking empathy during her time as a student nurse.

Lightfoot, who assessed Letby during her final year placement in 2011, testified that she found Letby’s behaviour concerning. She said: "I found Lucy to be quite cold. I did not find a natural warmth exuding from her, which I expect from a children’s nurse.”

She added that Letby’s clinical knowledge was below standard, and she struggled with tasks like calculating drug dosages and recognising side effects.

In her final report on Letby, Lightfoot wrote that the future nurse needed "much more support, prompting, and supervision" to qualify as a competent practitioner. Although Letby ultimately passed her placement after requesting a different mentor, Lightfoot said she did not believe Letby would reach the necessary level of competence during her time under her supervision.

Letby's next mentor, Sarah Jane Murphy, also expressed concerns, describing Letby as "quiet" and lacking interpersonal skills. She said: "She didn’t show good interpersonal skills with children, parents, nurses, or the wider team. I believed this to be Letby’s lack of confidence and experience as she was very young and an only child away from home.”

Murphy explained that while Letby passed her final placement, she urged her to improve her communication skills with patients and their families.

The inquiry continues to examine the circumstances surrounding Letby’s crimes, with findings expected to be published in late 2025.