Morning:
18°c
The full story of the rescue operation was told as it emerged that plastic windows fitted at the block two years ago melted in the intense heat, effectively acting as fuel for the blaze
More...
SMS message naming 'killers' of Baby P sent to thousands
Jack Lefley and Robert Mendick20.11.08
A TEXT message identifying those responsible for the death of Baby P has been sent to thousands of people across the country.
An unidentified sender names the toddler's mother and her boyfriend. The publication of their names is not allowed for legal reasons but the pair have also been identified on social networking websites.
The text messages urges people to pass it on to "name and shame" the couple, who it brands "the cruel vile killers of baby p".
It also names the street where the 17-month-old was subjected to the months of abuse that eventually killed him. The message urges people to sign a national newspaper's petition demanding "justice for that poor little boy".
It says: "The papers may be banned from naming and shaming the cruel vile killers of baby p but I aint.
"They r (mother's name) and (boyfriend's name) of (name of street and area). Jason Owen [was] living with them. I urge everyone to pass this on so everybody can name and shame them. Also pls sign the petition to have justice for that poor little boy. Rest in peace little man. Thanks."
The text message has raised fears that future legal proceedings could be put at risk.
In another development, protesters angry at the blunders by social workers, doctors and police which allowed Baby P to die, were set to take to the streets today.
They were due to gather outside Haringey Council's Civic Centre in Wood Green to demand answers.
The protest came as the Standard learned that social workers failed to carry out basic checks that could have saved the life of Baby P.
Neighbours knew the mother's boyfriend and their lodger had moved into the house but were never asked any questions.
If the authorities had been informed the men were there it is almost certain the toddler would not have been allowed to return home.
A police source told the Standard that if officers had known the truth it would have "changed things entirely".
But Haringey social workers failed to establish who the toddler was living with despite 60 visits from care workers. It meant the 17-month-old, who was on the child protection register, was repeatedly sent back to his tormentors.
He endured months of abuse and torture during which he suffered 50 injuries including a broken back and fractured ribs, before his death in August last year.
Social workers were kept waiting outside on unannounced visits and believed the mother's lies that no one else lived there. So far no social workers or council bosses have been sacked or resigned over the scandal.
Today residents near where the boy died demanded to know why the basic checks were not carried out.
A man living a few doors down from Baby P's home insisted no one had ever come around to ask about the boy.
The 41-year-old, who asked not to be named, said: "I can't believe we live just next door and social services didn't even ask us.
"I used to see the boyfriend all the time. I could have told them straight away. If I'd have known he wasn't supposed to be there I would have told someone."
Local resident Elton Thomas, 31, a father of two, said: "I used to see that baby come past in the street every day. People around here knew there were men in that house. If only social services had spoken to people he could have been saved."
Catherine Jones, 70, said: "I used to walk past the house every day and hear the baby crying. But I had no idea. All those visits and they couldn't work out they were in there? Why didn't they just ask us. It could have been stopped."
A Haringey Council spokesman said: "A government review is under way and we are co-operating fully. This will report back shortly."
Reader views (19)
Here's a sample of the latest views published.
Will we ever learn
- Dianne, Birmingham uk
Why are these people getting protection when baby P had none??
They should have the same protection offered to baby P.
People will just get angrier if this is not resovled soon
- N. Cookson, Lancaster
We watched how the mother elephant held on to her dead calf and refused to let go, staying by her still body till the next day. And a female wasp left her babies behind but not without ample food supply. Man is just another animal, but in the case of Baby P murderers, one of which is his own mother.
- Soleiman Bs, Westcott Park, UK
this tyoe of vigilantism may be illegal but it shouldn't be these sick people are given more rights than their victims are the punishment should fit the crime unfortunately this country's leagl system is more concerned with the rights of the perpetrators let the public deal with them for only then will true justice be administered
- Jo, glasgow
I,ve no problem with vigilantes in this case.Two grown men beating up a baby, and you dont want to see them hurt?
- Mickh, birmingham,England
I cannot beleive that baby Peters family didnt realise there was soemthing wrong, not just wrong - horrendously worng and hten to take him out of that environment. He was a beuatiful little angel,tortured by heartless mindless idiots who deserve nothing in life.
I hope his little life is not in vain and that as a result others are saved.
God bless you little Peter, we all love you and I for one would have loved and cherished you to bits. Sorry I wasnt there for you.
- Helen Chamberlain, Doncaster England
I have read quite a lot of the media coverage on this tragic case, and each new piece of information disclosed only adds to the horror, and feelings of despair that this child's suffering and death could have been prevented, yet was not. It puzzles me how the various 'professionals' on their numerous visits to this house, failed to realise that these other people were living there. Surely a bit of basic snooping would have revealed a few clues? (Shaving equipment and men's 'stuff' in the bathroom, male clothing and shoes pushed in the cupboard or under the bed ??) Now it appears that neighbours were fully aware of who was living there, and could have shared this information if they had realised how important it was, and that a child was at risk. I don't know whether child protection social work training encompasses such snooping and detective-like behaviour, but when a child's wellbeing (and life) is at stake, then maybe it should.
No-one likes to imagine that child abuse is going on in their street, their neighbourhood; but sadly it is, all too often. It is never acceptable to think "well, it's none of my business, it's not my responsibility", because the protection of children should be everyone's business. Anyone with concerns about a child should report these to the police, without delay.
- Carol, West Midlands, England
It's the same old story. There are people out there who will defend the rights of the civil servants who are in turn paid by the tax payers with lush salaries to provide services to the public. These services are not performed to the satisfaction of the public yet they get away with it. Accounatbility should be applied to civil servants just as well as it is to the general public.
- Terry Senton, hounslow middx
This kind of vigilantism is disgusting and illegal. Why should we stoop to the same kind of appalling, violent behaviour that the killers of this child showed? Two wrongs do not make a right. We should have progressed from the law of the jungle. It is the law of the land that should apply here. I believe that these people will be punished for the rest of their lives by being beyond all decent society. It is too late for the poor child. Outlaw behaviour by the rest of us will not bring him back. I do believe that Haringey Social Service Department should be sacked wholesale and new personnel brought in - hopefully untainted by the crackpot ideology that seems to apply at the moment (and Harigey have a long history of this).
- Susannah, London UK
I would build a new prison somewhere like the Falklands or Orkney with no central heating,visiting etc and put all the vilest and most violent criminals in it so the perpetrators of this crime can experience hell on earth every day like the poor helpless baby.
May they suffer to the end of their days!
- Stewart Robertson, Wimbledon
I'm not sure about Jon's theory of the names being withheld for the sake of the murderous mother's other children. They didn't extend that courtesy to the children of Fred and Rose West, did they? I have also been wondering why it was that Myra Hindley got life (meaning life, as it should be) even though the Police believed that it was Ian Brady who actually killed all the children there, whereas the mother of Baby P is only going to get 14 years - meaning she could still be in her childbearing years when she gets out - especially when this involves sustained abuse of a much younger and more vulnerable child.
- Sarah Bradshaw, Enfield, Middx
I got the mentioned txt and the details were in correct.
This just silly.
Wait until all cases against the mother and step father are finished and the press will publish plenty of photos of the correct people.
- Stuart, Luton, UK
Unfortunately I received the text from a well meaning but low IQ'ed relative who seems to think that vigilante justice should come to play in cases like this. I obviously deleted it and will wait for the criminal justice system to deal out the punishment as they are bound by law to do, rather than unleashing a mob mentality which would undoubtedly involve violence against innocent bystanders as it has in the past.
- Bob, Cheam
It’s quite easy to find the names and photos of the murderers of 'baby P' on the net using Google.
The reason mainstream media can't print their names is in case they prejudice the case for the prosecution, and those on trial claim unfair media bias and they get lenient sentences.
But like everything else (including the BNP list) it is on the net which is impossible to control.
- Jessica, london
I am sure that the names are being witheld , not for their sake but for the sake of their other children. I would be concerned that someone making these decisions without the full facts mya be putting other vulnerable children under more stress. Finger pointing parents in the playground, peer abuse and press intrusion are tough to take when your mother has just been convicted of killing your brother. People wil not stop to think before they take these actions - and I am sure it is done without intention to harm the kids.
- Jon, london,England
It may come as a surprise to ES but the mothers name was revealed on the BBC website. But Newsniffer (a site that captures revisions did capture it though. I read it yesterday.
Hastily taken down I might add.
So the Beeb is in contempt of court as well as it's licence payers!
It's T***** ******** by the way.
(Asterisks added by me.
- Rusty Shackleford, UK
I used to work in Child Welfare (Children Looked After) for a large south London council. One supervisor spent her time trying to convert the staff to her crackpot Christian cult and campaigning for the release of Myra Hindley (I kid you not), while the other spent his time betting on horse races online. One social worker sent in her reports on abused children by simply editing a standard report by inserting the child's name. Nobody did anything about this because nobody cared. Doubtless the standards at Haringey were the same, but they had the misfortune of having their incompetence exposed by two child murders. It's only a matter of time before it happens elsewhere.
- Dr Reece Walker, London UK
Good, even if I don't know the names of these horrendous beings myself at least people living in england who can hopefully deal with them will now be able to identify them
- Linda, italy
This is great! About time we name and shame the culprits. Too many rights are given to scum like this. About time we do something about it if the courts can't!
- John Simpolo, London
