The final report from the public inquiry into abuse at Muckamore Abbey Hospital will now be released in June. The inquiry chair Tom Kark KC cited the need to allow recipients of warning letters time to respond to proposed criticisms in the report. Letters were sent starting in early December last year with response deadlines set into March 2026.

Dawn Jones, whose non-verbal son Timothy resided at the hospital for 12 years, gave evidence to the inquiry. She expressed anger and disappointment over the repeated delays, stating families need closure and prompt implementation of recommendations. Timothy now lives in his own home with 24-hour support from Positive Futures staff.

Glynn Brown, father of Aaron who was a patient at the hospital, called the delay torturous and another setback. Police visited the facility in 2017 and found CCTV footage capturing Aaron's assault, which sparked the UK's largest adult safeguarding investigation. The Police Service of Northern Ireland recovered 300,000 hours of footage from cameras left running for six months.

The footage documented hundreds of incidents by staff, placing Muckamore Abbey at the center of the UK's biggest police probe into vulnerable adult abuse. The inquiry concluded hearings on 10 March last year after nearly three years of evidence. Delays also stem from handling restricted material and coordination with the PSNI and Public Prosecution Service due to ongoing criminal cases.

Agnes Lunny, chief executive of Positive Futures, stated families require closure and justice after expecting the report last year and then in March this year.