SHAUN Darrock's family spoke of their "immense relief" as their son enjoyed his first day of freedom for six months. His father Philip said: "We are absolutely ecstatic. It's been absolute hell and horror being locked up for something he had not done. "We don't know what he's going to do now. He's just overjoyed to be free." Mr Darrock added: "I cannot thank all the people who have supported us and Shaun through this enough. It's wonderful to have him home."

The nightmare for the Darrock family started at 7.30am on a grey April morning.

Auxiliary nurse Shaun Darrock had just returned to the family home in Gilnow Gardens after a night shift and was getting ready for bed...within 15 minutes he was being accused of attempted murder.

It was claimed the former Mount St Joseph pupil had tried to murder one psychiatric patient in his care and ill treated another while he worked on the psychiatric unit at Bolton General Hospital.

His family were always adamant that there was no way their son, known to everyone as a "gentle giant" could have committed such terrible crimes.

Twenty-two-year-old Shaun's dream was to be a paramedic. To realise his goal he trained in care work and worked for a time for the British Red Cross, looking after the elderly.

Such was his commitment that he often worked 60 hours a week for £53 and his employers and trainers praised him for his commitment and diligence.

His parents Patricia and Philip say that after his arrest they were inundated with letters of support and praise from former patients, colleagues and friends.

When the possibility of bail was first mooted pledges totalling £20,000 flooded into the family home.

"Would anyone offer that sort of money for a killer? I don't think so," said his mother Patricia who, for the past seven months, has travelled daily from her home to Strangeways to see the son she now barely recognises.

Stints in the Hazelbrook Nursing Home at Horwich, Grosvenor House for young people with learning difficulties and bank working, soon followed Shaun's success in his NVQ examinations.

Nine months before his arrest, say his parents, he was employed on a temporary contract to work as an auxiliary nurse at Bolton General Hospital and within a short time became a firm favourite with staff and patients alike.

Standing 6ft 1in tali and 18 stone, his physique meant he was able to cope well with frail patients, who needed lifting.

His initial temporary contract was renewed even before it had expired and Shaun continued to work so that he could pursue his hobbies - his Renault 5 car and holidaying.

He was also a regular visitor to Blackpool where he and his mates could often be seen tripping along the prom and enjoying all the resort has to offer. As a non drinker, non smoker Shaun saved his money, yet his generosity was boundless, say his parents.

"He's the sort of lad that would do anything for you, nothing was too much trouble," said Mrs Darrock. "I simply can't believe all this has happened, it's been a nightmare."

Although not a stunning academic, Shaun endeared himself to many people. His former headteacher at Mount St Joseph, Sister Barbara - now retired - is one of the people who visited him while he was on remand in Strangeways.

"Not one person has turned their back on him," said his father Philip "You'd think people wouldn't have wanted to know, but they knew like we did there was no way Shaun could have done what he was accused of. What he'll do after all this we have no idea.

"There's no way he'll go back into the caring profession.

"He's already told us to burn all his books, he just doesn't want to know.

"Why should he really, when all it's got him is this?"

His parents, two sisters and elder brother all blame Shaun's naivety for his troubles and claim the hospital made a scapegoat of an innocent man who only wanted to do good for others.

At the time of his arrest Shaun had been doing "bank" work at nursing homes in Bolton.

He had been suspended in the February of this year from his job at Bolton General for an alleged totally unrelated offence.

His family were completely unaware of any sort of investigation into deaths on the psychiatric unit.

They say that when the police arrived at their home on Tuesday, April 9 banging on their door, no one could believe what was happening.

Soon after his arrest, a colleague from his Red Cross days organised a petition demanding his release.

The petition was signed by elderly people he used to visit in their homes while working for the Red Cross.

"Would they sign a petition, if they thought he was a monster? I don't think so," his father said.

His mother added: "For someone who's never seen the inside of a police station before, this has been nothing short of a nightmare for Shaun.

"It's been a living hell."

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