'˜I felt guilt '“ now I want criminal prosecutions' '“ son of D-Day veteran who died in Gosport hospital scandal calls for criminal cases

THE son of a D-Day landing veteran said he forever felt '˜guilt' about the death of his father at the Gosport hospital.
By The Newsroom
Published 21st Jun 2018, 06:00 BST
Eric Cousins with Pauline Godley, son and daughter of Arthur Cousins, and Norman Godley outside Portsmouth Cathedral in Old Portsmouth. Picture: Malcolm Wells (180620-5209)Eric Cousins with Pauline Godley, son and daughter of Arthur Cousins, and Norman Godley outside Portsmouth Cathedral in Old Portsmouth. Picture: Malcolm Wells (180620-5209)
Eric Cousins with Pauline Godley, son and daughter of Arthur Cousins, and Norman Godley outside Portsmouth Cathedral in Old Portsmouth. Picture: Malcolm Wells (180620-5209)

Fareham man Eric Cousins, 70, had expected his dad, 82-year-old Arthur Cousins, to come back home after he was transferred to Gosport War Memorial Hospital from the now defunct Haslar hospital following a fall.

He said: ‘I want to see people taken to criminal court.

‘It’s not just (Dr Jane) Barton, there’s people above and government also. I say he was murdered, manslaughter at least. What he went through to have his life taken away through being taken away through manslaughter at the least is terrible.’

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Eric, whose dad died in 2000, said: ‘He said: “I’m looking forward to coming home, it’s doing my head in, the diamorphine”.’

‘They were professionals, you didn’t say “hang on” – I feel a little bit guilty that people didn’t take it further.’

He added: ‘I found relief because I thought certain bits would be pushed under the table. It was a total relief that there wasn’t one thing that went against us.’

Related topics:GosportBartonFareham