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Apology for women raped by father
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Two women who were repeatedly abused and raped by their father for three decades - bearing seven of his children - have received an unreserved apology from authorities who failed to protect them.
The women were repeatedly beaten and raped by their father, enduring 18 pregnancies between them during the horrific ordeal. In November 2008 he was jailed for life.
On the publication of the Executive Summary of a Serious Case Review, authorities apologised for a "collective failure" that left the women in his hands for several decades.
The review said the family had contact with 28 different agencies and 100 members of staff over 35 years. The review, which covers a 35-year period, showed the family moved repeatedly - 67 times - in the Sheffield and Lincolnshire areas so the father could avoid detection.
Concerns were raised the women were bearing his children, but professionals failed to help them, the report revealed.
Sheffield and Lincolnshire safeguarding children boards apologised for their failings and insisted changes had been made to protect families from abuse.
Chris Cook, independent chair of Lincolnshire Safeguarding Children Board, said: "We are genuinely sorry. We should have protected you. People's lives were devastated both by a controlling, power-obsessed and deviant father and our failure to act."
Sue Fiennes, independent chair of Sheffield Safeguarding Children Board, said they had failed the family and "nothing should shield us from that fact". She said lessons were being learned by the agencies to make sure nothing similar ever happened again.
In November, Sheffield Crown Court heard the man's campaign of abuse started when the women were aged between eight and 10. If they refused his advances, they would be punched, kicked and sometimes held to the flames of a gas fire.
The Executive Summary of the review made 128 recommendations, including eight national recommendations. Author Professor Pat Cantrill said: "We have got to learn from these serious case reviews. There are a number of these serious case reviews that happen and we always don't seem to learn from them."
Reader views (4)
This is so sad that the authorities did not do the job of defending and helping the kids from their dad.
- T Schumpert, Havre de Grace, MD, 11/03/2010 02:18
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Quite right!!!Time & time again we hear of the failings of these type of authorities & still it goes on.When are we going to get a grip on these expensive, not fit for purpose people, weed out the dead wood,& make them more accountable?If an apolology has been given then this is an admition of guilt so the persons responsible for this laxity should stand up & be counted.There is no room for this sort of protectionism.People are suffering because of sheer incompetence,we don't want promises of improvement,we want action immediately.
- Ronald Lwhitten, chesterfield u.k., 10/03/2010 21:23
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If they authorities don't do anything why are we paying for them?
- Eastender, London, 10/03/2010 20:02
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There are enough of these 'lapses' by the Public Sector employed 'Social Services' to demonstrate two things:-
1. in the Public Sector no-one is ever accountable although from time to time they are compelled to make a human sacrifice.
2. The socialist model of having the government look after children instead of family will never ever work. That's because Socialism never works either.
- Anglo, Sussex UK, 10/03/2010 19:34
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