Relatives of the alleged murder victims of nurse Anne Grigg-Booth today demanded a public inquiry into her actions.

They were joined by a mother of two who survived a morphine overdose administered by Grigg-Booth at Airedale General Hospital, Steeton, in July 2000.

Karen Hanson is desperate to know why Grigg-Booth, who died last year before she faced trial on three counts of murder, one of attempted murder and 13 counts of administering poison to 12 patients, tried to kill her.

Mrs Hanson, 34, of Haworth, said: "The police have told me I am the only surviving victim who remembers exactly what she tried to do to me.

"How could she take anyone's life let alone the life of a mother?

"I don't think I will ever understand what could have driven her to that."

Mrs Hanson was admitted to hospital to have an abscess removed after she became ill shortly after giving birth. She said she was experiencing dreadful pain after the operation to remove the abscess.

"Doctors were monitoring my pain relief very closely because I was still breast feeding," she said. "Grigg-Booth saw how much pain I was in one night and asked me if I wanted something stronger to help with the pain.

"She gave me morphine which the police have since told me she was not authorised to administer."

Mrs Hansen became very ill and later found out that it was due to an overdose of the painkilling drug.

"The first I knew of the attempt on my life was when the police came and told me they were conducting a murder inquiry," she said.

Mrs Hansen has joined the relatives of the three women whose deaths led to the murder charges against Grigg-Booth in calling for a full public inquiry.

She said: "We need to have answers because it is the only way we can all get closure, put this behind us and finally move on with our lives. It's also important we know this can never happen again to anyone else."

Bradford Coroner Roger Whittaker has sought permission to hold inquests into the deaths of the three women patients which led to murder charges against Grigg-Booth.

Jane Driver, 67, died on July 27, 2000; Eva Blackburn, 75, died on November 13, 2001 and Annie Midgley, 96, died on July 22, 2002.

Mr Whittaker today wrote to Lord Falconer, Secretary of State for the Department of Constitutional Affairs, who will decide whether the inquests should be held.

But McKay Law, the firm acting on behalf of the families involved in the case, said an inquest, although welcome, would not go far enough.

In a statement released through Simon McKay the families said: "We remain committed in our belief that the circumstances surrounding the deaths of our loved ones can only be properly investigated through a public inquiry.

"We note that the Coroner is proposing to hold an inquest shortly but we are of the view that the necessarily narrow remit of the inquest process will place limitations on the full and forensic examination of the systemic problems we believe existed at Airedale Hospital at the time.

"Each member of the family is determined and resolved to unremittingly pursue our objective of securing a full public inquiry once the inquest is concluded.

Mr McKay said: "This case falls squarely within the legal criteria for a full public inquiry and in view of the enormous issues of public concern, this is what must happen.

"I am instructed to pursue the Government to agree to one at the conclusion of the inquest process and, if necessary, challenge any refusal in the High Court by way of Judicial Review."

Mr Whittaker said he had sought permission to hold inquests under the provisions of Section 15 of the Coroner's Act 1988 because the bodies of the three women had already been cremated.

He said: "Each of the deaths reported was the subject of a charge of murder brought against Anne Grigg-Booth who has since died before trial.

"None of the deaths were at the time reported to the Coroner, each death having been registered in the normal way.

"Each body having been cremated, the Coroner has no jurisdiction to hold inquests into their deaths unless the Secretary of State exercises his discretion to so direct him following such report."

Grigg-Booth was found dead at her home in Nelson, Lancashire.

A verdict of accidental death was recorded at an inquest after it was heard she had taken eight times the safe amount of anti-depressants.

A West Yorkshire Strategic Health Authority spokesman said it was commissioning an independent inquiry to investigate the prescribing and administering of drugs by night nurse practitioners at Airedale NHS Trust between 2000 and 2002.

But he said that the probe would not be held until any proceedings involving the Coroner had been finalised.

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