A NURSE at the centre of an inquest into the deaths of four patients has confirmed she is to sue the police for wrongful arrest.

Senior nurse Kathleen Atkinson has denied allegations over the past six years that she was responsible for the deaths of four intensive care patients at the Royal Victoria Infirmary, in Newcastle.

Mrs Atkinson, who worked for 18 years at the unit, refused to answer any questions at the inquest.

But her solicitor Richard Haswell has confirmed that she is in the process of suing Northumbria Police.

Mrs Atkinson was sacked from her post in March 1996 for gross misconduct, and a police investigation into the deaths was launched.

The 51-year-old, from Wallsend, North Tyneside, was not tried for any offence, but was subjected to four days of police questioning, and charged.

She was remanded as a category A prisoner at Durham Prison for more than two weeks and spent a similar period at Low Newton remand centre.

Mrs Atkinson said: "I have had to listen to half-truths and downright lies in relation to my case.

"In particular, I feel deeply saddened for the family of the deceased and myself, who have been put through six years of hell."

Last month, coroner David Mitford recorded an open verdict on the death of Mary Burdon, 69, of North Shields, in 1991, natural causes on Claire Marsh, 14, from County Durham, in 1995, and accidental death in the case of Patricia Dryden, 15, from Blyth, Northumberland, in 1995.

In the case of Gladys Ward, 77, from Rochdale, Lancashire, he recorded a verdict of death by natural causes, contributed to by neglect, following the unauthorised withdrawal of treatment.

A spokesman for Northumbria Police said: "We can't comment at this stage."