The body that regulates nursing and midwifery across the UK has apologised to former Co Armagh nurse Mildred Jean Wylie after the High Court in Belfast quashed all findings against her and overturned a decision to strike her off the nursing register.
In a statement to Armagh I, Paul Rees MBE, Chief Executive and Registrar at the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), said the organisation accepted the court’s judgment and had written directly to Mrs Wylie to apologise.
“We accept the High Court judgment and are very sorry to Ms Wylie for the irregularities that occurred in her case. We’ve reviewed the judgment in detail and we’re learning from the findings and taking steps to improve our approach,” he said.
“This case reflects a difficult period in the NMC’s history. I was appointed to turn around the organisation’s culture and performance, and together with a revamped executive team, under a new Chair, we’re building a new NMC, working to a three-year transformation plan.”
The apology comes after Mr Justice O’Hara delivered a scathing ruling on June 12, allowing Mrs Wylie’s appeal, quashing all of the NMC panel’s findings, and describing the overall 14‑year process as “disgraceful”.
The decision means that both the findings of misconduct and the order to remove Mrs Wylie from the nursing register have been wiped out.
Mrs Wylie, now 72, was struck off by an NMC fitness‑to‑practise panel in November 2024 after it found 19 of 20 charges proved against her. The allegations, which she always denied, related to her time as registered nurse and registered manager of Hebron House in Markethill and Bawn Cottage in Armagh between 2002 and 2012.
The homes, run by Mr and Mrs Wylie, provided care for people with severe mental disorders and learning disabilities. While Mrs Wylie oversaw care and staff training, her husband dealt with finance, maintenance and HR. Only she, as a registered nurse, fell under the NMC’s remit.
The NMC panel had concluded that she: Failed to pay for day‑care meals for residents and allowed them to pay themselves, said to be dishonest; Inappropriately charged “top‑up” fees to several residents for accommodation and care; Overcharged residents for transport and supervision, including allegedly billing for miles not travelled and supervision not received, and did so dishonestly; Inappropriately charged residents for holidays; Failed to co‑operate with Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA) finance inspections; and misled inspectors about additional payments, supervision charges and holidays.
Mrs Wylie immediately challenged the panel’s decision and lodged an appeal to the High Court. On June 12, her appeal was upheld in full.
“After 14 years my innocence has been proved beyond doubt,” she told Armagh I following the ruling.
“It is a massive story that the judge quashed all the findings in the NMC report, but it is also a massive story how it has reached this stage over 14 years.
“It should never have started and after it started, it should have finished long ago with my innocence proven but certain people were determined to destroy my life and they did not care who else’s life they destroyed in the process.”
