AN INDEPENDENT inquiry is being held into a Nelson nurse who was accused of killing three pensioners at a hospital.

Anne Grigg-Booth, 52, took a drug overdose before going on trial accused of murdering three patients aged 67, 75, and 96 at Airedale Hospital and attempting to murder a 42-year-old man.

It was alleged that Grigg-Booth administered high levels of drugs to kill the patients but she died before the case could be brought before Bradford Crown Court.

The charges were dropped and no inquests were ever held into the deaths.

But Health Secretary Alan Johnson has now ordered an inquiry into the case.

Keighley MP Ann Cryer, who revealed the inquiry, said: “I’m pleased that there will be an inquiry.

“The families concerned and those who survived were denied the opportunity of really knowing what happened because no inquests were allowed.”

Mrs Cryer said the outcome of the inquiry was to be carried out by Yorkshire and Humber Strategic Health Authority.

Police launched their investigation into the case five years ago.