The families of babies attacked by Lucy Letby want to "live normal lives" and not be "permanent attractions in a ghoulish sideshow", the Thirlwall Inquiry has heard.

Richard Baker KC, representing the families of Child C, Child D, twins Child E and F, Child G, Child H, Child J, Child K, triplets Child O, P and R, and a baby not named on the indictment – Child U – has given an opening statement on behalf of those families on Thursday, September 12, day three of the inquiry.

Mr Baker said families had been in court throughout Letby's 10-month trial, and "have no doubt she is guilty".

Additionally, while the jury was unable to reach a verdict in the case of Child J, the parents had "no doubt" that Letby attacked their baby girl, while the parents of Child K believe Letby – convicted of attempted murder on a retrial – had murdered their baby girl. Prosecutors had originally put forward a charge of murder for Child K but laid an alternative charge of attempted murder prior to her first trial in October 2022.

Mr Baker said anonymising the babies and parents had a "dehumanising" effect, which had "allowed people to express vile opinions on social media".

He said Lady Thirlwall had met the families, that they were "real people" and wholly disconnected from the "monster" who attacked babies on the neonatal unit.

He added: "They have no interest in becoming permanent attractions at a ghoulish sideshow", that they wanted to "live normal lives".

He said those online who "relied on the same tired misconceptions" from the trial "should be ashamed of themselves".

Mr Baker also highlighted the "woeful" communication from the hospital in relation to what had happened on the neonatal unit, with some parents only learning of collapses or incidents for the first time during Letby's trial. The situation was similar for parents only learning of the police investigation, with some parents only learning their baby was involved from a police phone call on the morning Letby was arrested in July 2018.

The first week of the Thirlwall Inquiry will hear opening statements from the counsel to the inquiry, along with legal representatives from core participants including the families of Letby’s victims.

Lady Justice Thirlwall said it was planned that the hearings in Liverpool would finish in early 2025 and she expected her findings to be published by late autumn of that year.

A court order prohibits reporting of the identities of the surviving and dead children involved in the case.