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Baby P carers demand payouts
Paul Cheston and Tim Ross11 Aug 2009
- Killers: Revealed at last: Evil pair behind death of Baby P
- Family: Grandmother hopes daughter will 'rot in hell'
- Profile: Manipulative mum lied and lied but insists she knew nothing
- Brothers: Most hated man since Ian Huntley
- Cover-up: Haringey tried to conceal role but failed
- Timeline: Shocking events that led to death
Six carers in the Baby P case who lost their jobs are demanding taxpayers' money in compensation.
Their extensive legal action follows an attempt in court by Haringey council to keep its role in the scandal out of the headlines for years to come.
Baby P's full name and those of the three people convicted over his death can be revealed today for the first time after a court order granting them anonymity expired.
Peter Connelly was 17 months old when he died in a blood-spattered cot in his Tottenham home after months of abuse from his mother Tracey Connelly, 28, and her lover Steven Barker, 33. It can also be disclosed that the third defendant, Jason Owen, 37, is Barker's brother.
Those seeking compensation include Sharon Shoesmith, the former head of children's services, who was sacked last December. She is receiving financial support for her High Court action from the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives, which represents senior council managers. But this will not cover the full legal costs of both sides if she loses, and Ms Shoesmith could have to pay £50,000 of her own money, according to The Times.
Ms Shoesmith is set for a High Court battle with Schools Secretary Ed Balls, who ordered Haringey to remove her from her £130,000-a-year job as director of children's services in the wake of the scandal.
She lost her job in the furore over the council's failure to protect Baby Peter when Mr Balls ordered her to be removed from her post. Haringey council subsequently sacked her without notice or compensation.
Four of Ms Shoesmith's Haringey colleagues have also appealed against their sackings, while the doctor who failed to spot 17-month-old Peter's broken back is suing for unfair dismissal. If all their cases are successful at tribunal, the six individuals could share up to £1.4 million in compensation.
They have been criticised by Lynne Featherstone, Lib-Dem MP for Hornsey and Wood Green, who said the carers should not receive compensation.
“It is their right to appeal but people will be shocked to find that those who were in the position of responsibility and accountability for what happened to Baby Peter appear not to want to take that responsibility,” she said.
“The only thing that will keep children safe is when people feel that their jobs are on the line.”
The final cost to the public of the case will not be known for months but has already gone past the £3 million mark. It includes the police investigation, an Old Bailey trial, a second trial in which Barker was found guilty of raping a two-year-old, High Court hearings and a school inspector's inquiry report into the Haringey failings.
Ms Shoesmith claims that Mr Balls was unduly influenced by media pressure and has launched judicial review proceedings in the High Court to test whether the decision exceeded his legal powers.
A three-day hearing is due to begin on 7 October, as the High Court fast-tracks the case.
Ms Shoesmith has also lodged an employment tribunal claim for unfair dismissal and sex discrimination against Haringey council. Legal experts believe she could win more than £1 million if the claims are decided in her favour.
Her case states that “she was treated less favourably by the council than a man would have been in similar circumstances”.
Dr Al-Zayyat was sacked from Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital and suspended by the General Medical Council pending an investigation.
Ms Shoesmith's £80,000-a-year deputy Cecilia Hitchen and three other Haringey child protection workers who were fired without compensation are also appealing.
Ms Hitchen was sacked for “loss of trust and confidence” after inspectors published a damning report on the children's services department she was running with Ms Shoesmith.
Baby Peter's social worker, Maria Ward, was dismissed for gross misconduct after it emerged that she saw him at least nine times while he was on the child protection register.
She failed to spot that Peter's injuries had been covered up with chocolate and said he seemed “well” four days before he died.
Gillie Christou, Ms Ward's supervisor, and Clive Preece, who was head of safeguarding at Haringey, are also appealing against their dismissals for gross misconduct. Both played key roles in the decision to send Peter back to live with his mother instead of placing him with a foster family.
Maria Ward
Baby Peter's social worker. She saw him at least nine times in the eight months he was on the child protection register. Said Peter seemed “well” four days before he died and failed to spot injuries. Sacked for gross misconduct and suspended from practice by General Social Work Council. Now appealing against her dismissal.
Social work team manager and Ms Ward's supervisor. She approved the decision to send Baby Peter back to live with his mother after her second arrest on suspicion of assaulting the child. Sacked for gross misconduct but now appealing. Also suspended from social work duties by General Social Work Council, pending investigation.
Dr Sabah Al-Zayyat
Paediatric consultant who failed to spot Baby P's broken back and ribs two days before his death. She decided not to conduct a full examination because he was “cranky”. Dismissed from Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital and suspended by the General Medical Council. Dr Al-Zayyat is suing the hospital for unfair dismissal.
Reader views (50)
if it was me that was one of these people i think i would have drunk myself to half-death after this,living in the woods ,for the guilt and shame eats you alive
none of them are familiar with the feelings
words cannot describe these dispicable ''human beings''
- bobby, london,england, 05/12/2011 05:20
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They want compensation!!! It beggars belief! Should they not all be fined, or even prosecuted for their disgusting failure to protect the child? I really am disgusted that the thought of compensation entered their heads which they should all be hanging in shame.
- Lin, London England, 12/08/2009 07:20
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How appalling, how absolutely unbelievable that these 'people' even have the nerve to go public, let alone make a claim for unfair dismissal. They themselves should be sued or imprisoned for criminal negligence.
That poor child could be alive and his life free of pain had they done their jobs. I don't even know how they can continue to live with themselves.
Please Britain, everyone, don't let this happen again.
The welfare of children obviously cannot be left in the hands of these professional idiots. Engage with your community. Take notice of your neighbours and people around you. And if you suspect anything, do something.
- Stephen Anderson, Perth Australia, 12/08/2009 07:12
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We have these entrenched self-serving bureaucrats on both sides of the pond. Their absurd work rules stem from the spineless politicians currying their favor (votes). More of their money is spent on their own salaries and benefits than on service they are supposed to provide. Sacking is too mild for those who had direct contact with the child.
- Marlowe, Colorado, USA, 12/08/2009 01:21
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Everywhere failure; failure of parents,abused & abusers; provided for by taxes; poor because of a benefit system that morally corrupts them. Social Services: who did they think protection is for? They want to be paid but not take responsibility? A Justice System which places little value on abused children. Strangled by Human Rights, Political Correctness & the prospect of more money spent on protecting the criminal than the victim. It should have been a minimum 20 years for the death of Baby P but child care/justice is not a priority for MPs, their expenses yes, but underclass children, no. Social Workers fail because it is built into the inadequate system. Council Homes are deemed worse than abusive parents! Far better to leave the child where he is,also the cheaper option. Foster Parents or adoption work but only if the child is removed before the harm is done (within the first few months?) How are things to improve at this level of UK society in a country where a future government promises nothing except cut-backs? Baby P represents far more than just abusive parents and Social Services failures. The truth is he died,not because the services were not there, and soon they may not be, but because no one cared enough. But oh how they care about themselves, demanding their rights. If children survive abuse will they become a Connelly or Barker? Thugs who kick a dad to death come from somewhere? We have to re-think our society and personal responsibility.
- C J C, Hungerford, 11/08/2009 23:30
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Sheer incompetence sums up all of them and they have the brass neck to be trying to claim compensation from the taxpayers.
They are guttersnipes who have no place in this society,dont they realise what they collectively did and the absolute suffering this poor child went through.
How about this so called government getting some guts: variety and prosecuting them in the name of common decency.
If there is any justice I sincerely hope that they get their just rewards,as an old Lancashire saying goes:- if he does,nt call coming he will call coming back.
RIP Peter and God dammn those who failed you.
- Roy.C, wigan, 11/08/2009 22:37
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We Brits are amazing!Someone else must be responsible for my mistake!How crazy.Its time to recognise that we as a society are degenerating.30 more babies died at the hands of their families in the UK since the tragic death of Baby P.Should we not take step back and reflect on why all this is happening?Lets not allow ourselves into mob lynching those whose names and pictures were released over a year before those who actually perpetrated this heinous crime.And some of the media are leading the national emotions in very negative manner.All the health professionals should now be left to be dealt by their respective regulatory bodies and as a nation we should have an open debate as to what can be done to eliminate the causes of this degeneration in our complex society?
- John Gladstone, Doncaster, 11/08/2009 21:25
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While I accept that they have a very difficult job, they still failed and that is simply not good enough. The child had a crap life, a horrible death and during the time he was alive had no idea that his life could be better. Since I don't believe in an afterlife or in reincarnation his time in the sun was more precious and cutting that short is just awful.
So they should not get compensation and the government should be less obsessed measuring for the purposes spin because lets face it that is easy. Providing social services is hard so instead of wasting money pay people on the ground more, train them better and hire more of them then purhaps there would be less of these people who do awful things because they had awful things done to them
- Alan.Rodda, Manchester UK, 11/08/2009 17:53
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Reading the comments today surely public opinion is against these wonderful careers who should be hiding themselves and not making these rediculous claims.
I suppose the pc brigade will now swing into action together with the human rights mob.I have a strange feeling the docor or whatever she is will win her case no problem. she being a little darker than the rest of this ghastly foursome
- Terence Mccarthy, South Africa, 11/08/2009 17:28
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Should any of them receive 1 penny it will be too much. They took the Queen's shilling and failed in their basic duties of care etc and some of them deliberately made quick resolution difficult.
All are unemployable I would hope.
- Gordonbay, London and Cape Town, 11/08/2009 17:24
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Why are we NOT prosecuting those so called "carers" for associated child abuse, child neglect and manslaughter? Yes, why not counter claim? This Labour Govt which has ruined this country, the decay has set into our society.All those six so called carers have the audacity to sue Haringey council and expect to be compensated?What is this country coming to? Have they NO shame or conscious at all? Are they animals? Especially the Dr,Sabah? I say hang them from the nearest electricity pole.People like them make my blood boil. Wake up ye English.
- Surj, london, 11/08/2009 16:03
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These people couldn't be left in charge of a hamster especially the doctor who has brought her third world brain and training to our shores courtesy of NuLabour.
- Les, Middlesbrough, UK, 11/08/2009 15:50
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With all these people they all seem to have one thing in common,they have all been endowed with the idea that they have rights but do not have to take any resposibility for their actions.
They live in a world where "it is someone elses or the systems fault....never theirs".
This government has installed this idea throughout the public sector bureaucracy of this country.
They were all there to look after the well being of a child.....they failed and are liable.They were not there to fill in the forms/fulfill their targets that the government give them but to protect the child.
- Grumpy As Hell, Wimbledon, 11/08/2009 15:46
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I’m stunned! I don’t work in a caring profession but always admired those that do; the hours are long, the task thankless and the money often poor (despite whatever the idiot below says about huge salaries). The workload and pressure these people are under is huge but all people do is criticise and vilify them if something goes wrong. No wonder moral is so low and it is so hard to attract new people into social services. These people worked in difficult circumstances with manipulative and deceitful mothers who hid the child’s injuries. I would be interested to know if the people commenting here have chosen a profession that helps others or just one that just benefits themselves? After all it is easy to level criticism against those who are trying to help the venerable if you have never lifted a finger to help yourself.
- Nj, London, 11/08/2009 15:43
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Am i missing something here,
If you are an employer and a employee has a injury resulting in thier death,
Are you not held responsible in a court of law, under neglagence,
And if it were proven as the employer`s fault, then not only would you have to pay a hefty fine, BIT ALSO THE CHANCE OF IMPRISONMENT,
Also these people were being paid to do a job, which quite clearly they were not, if an employee were to clock in, and decide not to bother doing thier job, but hide somewhere, is this not deemed as Fraud / Taking money by deception,
If the governing bodies of this country cannot be bothered to stand up for whats right and whats wrong, what hope is there for decent people in the country to look forward to.
- Jimi, Basildon, Essex, 11/08/2009 15:39
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Just look at the four of them. A cold dispassionate lot, especially Shoesmith with her sour pinched features. They look as though they should have jobs in a prison, but that would being doing a disservice to prison warders. Absolutely agree with other readers who think this quartet of incompetents should face criminal prosecution - and left to rot there.
- Tinkerbelle, london, 11/08/2009 15:32
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In most jobs, gross negligence may only lead to a faulty component, or too many cakes in the bag - this time it led to murder.
Perhaps a custodial sentence, or at least hefty fines would be in order for these "carers"?
- Darius, London UK, 11/08/2009 15:20
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Not a single penny for any of them!!
- Colin Macpherson, Gramat France, 11/08/2009 15:02
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How dare they claim compensation!
They were sacked, end of story.
Move on, retrain and make a positive difference, not fail tiny people!
- Outraged!, England, 11/08/2009 14:56
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“The only thing that will keep children safe is when people feel that their jobs are on the line.”
That will make no difference whatsoever. These people are only interested in saving their own backs. I promise you!
These people would feel far more angered and upset if one were to refer to them as incompetent than a matter of a little boy dying under their responsibility. They could not give a toss about baby P which is why they have no compunction in sueing for compensation.
They are odious to the nth degree.
Tell them their bottom looks too big or that they are a touch twee and just watch how upset they would become and then compare how upset they are over baby P
- Seenitall, London, 11/08/2009 14:44
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I had a girlfriend once who was a 'social worker' in North London - she was always in tears over dinner, about the things she had seen, and the things she was not permitted by 'political correctness' to do. The blame lies with the grotesque society we live in, not the sad well-meaning functionaries who have to fill-in all the forms, and who get fired when their worst suspicions are confirmed.
- Steve, London, England, 11/08/2009 14:13
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Sharon Shoesmith and the rest of them make all right minded people livid. What utterly despicable human beings they all are. A baby was tortured for years and went through excruciating pain because of they wilful failure to do their jobs properly and these money grubbing parasites are now demanding rewards. They should crawl under rocks and keep away from decent people. They should never be allowed to work again! I hope Shoesmith goes bankrupt when she cannot pay her legal fees.
- Cameron, London, 11/08/2009 13:48
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These people make me sick to the stomach. They should be ashamed of themselves. It's incredulous that they believe they have been unfairly treated. Peter Connelly might be alive today if these incompetents had bothered to do their jobs properly.
- Goggs, London, 11/08/2009 13:46
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Of course they're suing for damages. It's harms the self-esteem to consider yourself incompetent. Much better to perceive yourself as a victim. It does wonders for self-confidence too, invites others to empathise, and pays out handsomely if you happen to win. Hanging your head in shame is sooo destructive to self-image. On the other hand, taking your perceived victim-hood to a tribunal ticks all the right boxes. It's just a shame 'Baby P' won't be able to attend as a character witness.
- Grahame P, Bristol, UK, 11/08/2009 13:38
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Thease individuals,that where rightfully sacked, becouse of there continued failure with Baby Peter,seem to have some sort of pathological idea that they where in the "right" and the media and the nation where in the "wrong".They are callouse just like the people at the nursing home that my elderly father was residing in.
they held back the paramedics from resucitating my father for 18 minutes,because they had a 'Do not resucitate' form,they diden't.
They don't deserve to work again,with the most vunerable till they get their act together.
- Paul Yarrow, London,England, 11/08/2009 13:33
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Now we have these creatures photos and names - employers beware - never employ these grasping harpies - how can they sleep knowing they had a hand in this poor child's demise!.... have they no shame!!
- David, soton, 11/08/2009 13:30
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Before you all jump to condemnation, at least consider the possibility that one or more of these carers might have been scapegoated by that odious Shoesmith woman. Maybe they DID raise the alarm, which was then ignored or buried in the interests of Shoesmithian administrative process and efficiency?
This sort of thing is why we have courts and tribunals, so that the truth comes out, and people can be compensated if they were unfairly victimized.
- Nigel, London, 11/08/2009 13:27
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As a tax payer in this country, I cant tolerate to see my hard working money going to those people.They should be punished for their careless attitude.If they win it will be really unfair judgement.
- Amit, London, 11/08/2009 13:23
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These people are scum and should not receive a penny, however, they are not the only ones and despite their own guilt are being scapegoated by even more senior officials and policemen.
This country is not a stinking cesspit because of labours policies as most of your deluded bloggers would have, most politicians are the same, but because we are a greedy, self important, selfish, lazy, self seeking society, bedazzled by riches and celebrity. We have no soul and very little merit, there is no God, so we need to sort this out by taking a good long look at ourselves.
I have very little hope.
- Kerry, Purley, 11/08/2009 13:18
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Gt Britain
Another country who pay handsomely for failure
how can these so called carer dare ask for rewards. I hope the judge throws their claim and them out the door
Trouble is the judges suffer from the pc illness we have in Britain today.
- Terence Mccarthy, South Africa, 11/08/2009 12:43
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They were all incompetent, and should be paying back the wages they took form Haringey.
As for GOSH they have lost my monthly donation, and scores of others I know, as we don't want our money spent on incompetent child doctors.
- Daisy Willetts, London, 11/08/2009 12:13
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Send the them to afganistan, they would make good cannon fodder to lead our boys into battle
- Richard Edmunds, Rayleigh Essex, 11/08/2009 12:10
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Another day, another case of rewarding incompetence and ensuring Solicitors, Barristers and Judges enjoy their luxurious lifestyles...
Great Britain - where the cost of living is going UP and the chance of living is going DOWN...
- Andre, london, 11/08/2009 12:07
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Why have these so called carers NOT been prosecuted for total imcompetance for NOT doing what they were paid in huge amounts for??
They should all receive a jail sentance for allowing this child's prolonged agony untill his death!
May you all rot in hell!
- Valerie, Hampton Middlesex, 11/08/2009 12:07
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Apparently you have laws like we do - to protect the guilty! Rewarding mediocrity (at best) I thought was only an American idea, but these incompetent people seem to think it would work in your country, too.
- Ron C Clair, Sarasota, Florida, USA, 11/08/2009 12:04
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One of the most priceless human (/animal?) traits, honor, is being purged from the British persona. Over the last 15 years or so, a mix of the negative aspects of American victim mentality, the hedonistic, shallow, narcissistic deconstructive nature of 75% of television and magazines, a clueless, values-less government and the intentional erasure of Christian values have not only lead to this tragedy (and the greed that followed it) but will continue to turn the UK into a cold, heartless dystopia where law is delivered by CCTV and more and more people actually profit from their own maleficence or idiocy. It's all going rather pear shaped isn't it?
- Oflife, Oxford & London, 11/08/2009 11:53
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It's all very sad that these people consider themselves nothing to do with the death of an innocent. It's a very real reflection on the state of our society, which applauds incompetance and derides those who show intelligence.
- Bob, Cheam, 11/08/2009 11:49
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Whatever happed to people who actually care about other human beings in this world to-day. Money is a great motivator for all careers now and there is no doubt at all that it was the main reason for these women to take up their positions at Haringey Social Services. Look at their faces and it will tell you that they have no compassion, love or feelings at all. It says it all that they are claiming compensation instead of hanging their heads in shame. God help us all.
- Pamela Mckay, Dagenham Essex, 11/08/2009 11:28
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See, Harriet Harman this is what happens when you leave it to women to run things.
- Patricia, London, 11/08/2009 11:27
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Why are we not prosecuting these so-called "carers" for associated child abuse, child neglect and manslaughter? Surely, what they have done is just as bad as the act itself?
- Ben Church, Borehamwood, 11/08/2009 11:25
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The Labour Government is so politically correct, it will probably be too scared to oppose this action in case they are sued in turn.
Labour has ruined this country for generations to come.
- Sally Jones, London, 11/08/2009 11:21
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Couldn't agree more Roz.
Also:
"Ms Shoesmith has also lodged an employment tribunal claim for unfair dismissal and sex discrimination against Haringey council. ... Her case states that “she was treated less favourably by the council than a man would have been in similar circumstances”."
Based on what evidence? That's an empty assumption and nothing more than a cynical attempt to extort money from Haringey Council and it's taxpayers.
As for the doctor, I can't see as she has a leg to stand on: Refusing to examine an injured patient because they are 'cranky'? I think most people would be cranky with a broken back!
There's a difference between getting a difficult decision wrong and simply being disinterested and incompetent, and this lot were utterly incompetent, all of them.
I hope they all lose their respective cases.
- John, London, 11/08/2009 11:19
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Firstly I hope none of these incompetent people are in receipt of any legal aid. Great Ormond Street should hang their heads in shame for allowing such an incompetent doctor to even work there thus denigrating their reputation as a centre of medical excellence. She apparently was unable to diagnose a broken back !!!! Where on earth did she train as a doctor and who actually employed her. The rest are the run of the mill local authority employees mostly jobsworths and timeservers.
- Nick Holland, glasgow, 11/08/2009 11:17
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Absolutely disgusting!!! It is disgusting that my tax paying money is used in a way to protect vicious vial scum that in my opinion have done away with their right live in a society both i and every other normal human wishes to live in. in my opinion these people should be locked away for good and i would bring back the death penalty for such a crime. There will always be violence in the world but usually on level playing fields but this was an act of unspeakable revolution that in turn should have similar consequences!
- Oliver, London, 11/08/2009 11:12
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Clearly these people have been obtaining pecuniary advantage by deception. They present themselves as competent in their jobs, but have quite obviously failed disastrously. Maybe Haringey should counter-sue for fraud.
- Chuck Unsworth, London, 11/08/2009 11:04
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You do have to wonder what these people were being paid their grossly excessive salaries for, if not to do their jobs.
- Tilting@Windmills, estepona spain, 11/08/2009 11:03
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Compensation...I've heard it all now! No doubt they will all end up with fat bank accounts, celebrity status and a prime slot on daytime TV. This country is a joke and has become the laughing stock of the world. I'm off! Pink passport anyone?
- Ady, Birmingham. UK, 11/08/2009 10:56
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These people are beneath contempt. Their utter incompetence has lead to much unnecessary suffering. We should be asking for them to return all of their salary to the taxpayer. I certainly hope they are not receiving legal aid.
- Dannyp, Egham, 11/08/2009 10:43
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Wouldn't it be nice if the people who failed this child were actually held responsible and received absolutely no compensation for the loss of their jobs. Sadly the present employment law and regulations means that they will will no doubt receive something for wounded feelings. Unlike poor baby P.
- Bj, London, 11/08/2009 10:41
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If the rest of the populace was found to be rubbish at their job they'd be fired on a month/week/day's notice depending on the regularity of their pay: why should this lot be different? There is an obscene cling-on-to-the-bitter-end attitude in public sector employment that goes hand-in-hand with claiming the full year's 'right' of self-certified sick leave, tearing the rip out of expenses and ramping-up gold-plated pensions. The gist of it is that 'if I do nothing at all, I will do nothing wrong so they cannot fire me': WRONG. Accept responsibility for what you did - or did not - do.
- Roz, France, 11/08/2009 10:30
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