Ex-GP admits poisoning alcohol in murder bid

A FORMER GP who is serving a life sentence for trying to kill his mother's partner with a fake Covid jab has admitted a previous attempt to murder him with poisoned bottles of alcohol.

- ROB KENNEDY

Victim Patrick O'Hara

Thomas Kwan was last year given a minimum term of 31 years for injecting Patrick O'Hara with poison while disguised as a community nurse on January 22 last year.

Now, appearing at Newcastle Crown Court on a video link from HMP Frankland, he has admitted an earlier attempt to murder Mr O'Hara, who he saw as an obstacle to receiving inheritance should anything happen to his mum.

Kwan, 54, who was a doctor in Sunderland, contacted the victim via a fake wine and drinks club and sent the 73-year-old bottles of alcohol laced with thallium, the court heard. He pleaded guilty to attempting to murder Mr O'Hara between September 15 2022 and January 21 2024 and administering a poison or noxious substance with intent to another man, to whom Mr O'Hara had given a bottle, with intent to injure, aggrieve or annoy Mr O'Hara, between the same dates.

The court heard between 18 and 21 packages were sent to Mr O'Hara and one was passed to the other man, who consumed some of the poisoned drink. Peter Makepeace KC, prosecuting, said: "Only two bottles were recovered that contained poison. There is evidence a third bottle delivered to Mr O'Hara and consumed by him provoked an illness consistent with thallium poisoning."