Three individuals who worked at Muckamore Abbey Hospital have been sent to the Crown Court in Belfast to face charges relating to the treatment of patients.

Heather Gorman, 66, of Greenvale Avenue, Antrim, is charged with false imprisonment, wilful neglect of a patient, and ill-treatment of a patient. Mary Majella Hamill, 70, of Grange Road, near Toomebridge, faces three charges of ill-treating a patient. Lesley Sands, whose age was not given in court, of Killyfaddy Road, Magherafelt, is charged with 16 counts of ill-treatment, one count of wilfully neglecting a patient, and one count of false imprisonment.

The three appeared before Antrim Magistrates' Court, sitting in Ballymena, on Tuesday, June 2. They were granted continuing bail and the cases were committed for trial. Arraignment is scheduled for June 12 at the Crown Court in Belfast.

This is the latest development in a series of prosecutions stemming from the long-running investigation into patient care at Muckamore Abbey Hospital. A number of other hospital employees have recently appeared in court on similar charges.