THE former hospital boss in charge when Lucy Letby murdered seven babies has retired to an idyllic French home — complete with its own pool.

       Medical director Ian Harvey quit the UK after leaving his job with a ￡1.8million pension pot in August 2018 — less than a month after the twisted neonatal nurse was arrested.

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       The former hospital boss in charge when Lucy Letby murdered seven babies has retired to an idyllic French home Credit: Dan Charity 5

       The luxury home in Dordogne, South-West France is complete with its own pool Credit: Dan Charity 5

       Ian Harvey quit the UK after leaving his job with its ￡1.8million pension pot in August 2018 Credit: Cheshire Live/MEN MEDIA

       He moved into a farmhouse with extensive outbuildings and several acres of land hidden away in a hamlet near the town of Payzac, in Dordogne, South-West France.

       The region, famed for its pretty villages, is popular with wealthy British ex-pats and similar properties fetch around ￡500,000.

       When he retired from the Countess of Chester Hospital, Mr Harvey — who earned ￡175,000 a year — reportedly told a colleague that in the event of an inquiry, investigators “would have to find me first”.

       One neighbour said Letby’s murders had been mentioned only once — by Harvey’s wife Lesa.

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       They said: “I think it was five years ago. His wife asked if I’d seen the news about a nurse who’d been killing babies at a hospital in England. She said Ian was there.

       “I didn’t ask more questions as it was a painful subject for everyone. But Ian never mentioned his involvement. Never said a word.

       “Maybe he couldn’t while the trial and investigation was going on.

       Mr Harvey, who celebrated his 65th birthday last Monday when Letby was sentenced to a whole-life tariff, bought his French spread a few years before he left work.

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       Sources said he “retired very quickly” and cancelled his subscription to the General Medical Council watchdog following Letby’s arrest.

       In 2018, colleague Dr Stephen Brearey referred him to the GMC over the scandal in a letter signed by three others — but it decided the case did not meet the threshold for referral to a tribunal hearing.

       Mr Harvey has been accused of delaying doctors pleas to get police to properly investigate Letby, 33.

       At the time, he said it “was not something we did lightly”.

       A lawyer representing two families whose babies were victims of Letby described his failure to address parental concerns as “shameful”.

       Richard Scorer, of Slater and Gordon Lawyers, said Mr Harvey’s letters invited them to ring for more information — but they were never able to get hold of him.

       He said: “Our clients have described his response as a ‘total fob-off’.

       "It seems Harvey had little interest in passing any meaningful information to the parents, responding properly to any of their concerns, or complying with any duty of candour to them.”

       Locals say Mr Harvey has been spotted in Payzac, which has a population of around 1,000.

       A friend who was at his home last week said Mr Harvey had since left the area but would not reveal his whereabouts.

       Another neighbour said: “Ian’s gone away. He left very early on Sunday without saying where he was going.

       "I had heard about the case but only realised his connection when I read about it last week. He never mentioned it.

       “It’s a sad story for everybody connected, especially the parents of the children. Hopefully an inquiry may give them answers.”

       Mr Harvey has since apologised to the babies’ parents and blamed his silence on the ongoing police investigation.

       He said in a previous statement: “As medical director, I was determined to keep the baby unit safe and support our staff.

       “I wanted the reviews and investigations carried out so we could tell the parents what had happened to their children.

       “I believe there should be an inquiry that looks at all events leading up to this trial and I will help it in whatever way I can.”

       Letby will die in prison after receiving 14 whole-life sentences at Manchester crown court.

       The judge, Mr Justice Goss, said she showed a “malevolence bordering sadism.”

       He told her: “Over a period of 13 months, you killed seven fragile babies and attempted to kill six others.

       “Some of your victims were only a day, or a few days old. All were extremely vulnerable.

       “This was a cruel, calculated and cynical campaign of child murder involving the smallest and most vulnerable children, knowing your actions were causing significant physical suffering.”

       He added: “During the course of this trial, you have coldly denied any responsibility for your wrong-doing. You have no remorse. There are no mitigating factors.

       “In their totality, the offences of murder and attempted murder are of exceptionally high seriousness, and just punishment, according to law, requires a whole-life order.”

       PM Rishi Sunak wants a top judge to lead the inquiry into Letby’s crimes in order to gain families’ trust.

       He said the Letby case was “one of the most despicable, horrific crimes in our history”.

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       He added that it was “really important we get answers” for the bereaved.

       As yet, there is no guarantee the inquiry will be on a statutory footing which would see witnesses compelled to give evidence under oath.

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       Mr Harvey's retirement came less than a month after Letby was arrested Credit: PA 5

       The medical director earned ￡175,000 a year at the Countess of Chester Hospital Credit: PP. ‘Fully open inquiry’ call after secret name fears

       By Ryan Sabey

       THE Lucy Letby inquiry must not keep identities of key witnesses secret, top Tories insisted yesterday.

       A number of the killer nurse’s hospital colleagues were granted anonymity for her nine-month trial, raising fears for open justice.

       MPs have insisted the probe should not keep the eight unnamed doctors and nurses questioned in the trial anonymous again.

       It comes after Rishi Sunak said the inquiry must be judge-led. It is not known whether it will be made a statutory hearing, with stronger legal powers.

       Ex-Cabinet minister David Jones said: “Justice needs to be seen to be done. The public are entitled to full transparency in a case that has shocked the nation.”

       Tory MP Paul Maynard added: “Any inquiry must meet public expectations.”