to not be able to stop thinking about that poor little girl in today's news?

[theressomethingaboutmarie]

You know, the 3 year old who was so neglected, that she died of pneumonia and malnutrition and according to the coroner, knew that she was unloved, unwanted and not cared for. She would stare out of the window of the room that was locked in hoping that someone would help her.

COME ON MUM'S - LET'S MAKE A STAND. WHO WILL JOIN ME IN PLEDGING TO NOT BEING BOTHERED ABOUT BEING CONSIDERED TO BE NOSY OR A BUSYBODY? WHO WILL JOIN ME IN COMMITTING TO SPEAKING OUT WHEN WE THINK THAT A CHILD IS BEING MISTREATED?

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God me too
it made me cry on the train
Poor little thing

FWIW I would defo report someone if I suspected neglect

Countess Dracula - I read it in Metro and was crying on the train too. The coroners words hit me the most - just horrifying.

I haven't heard about that particular case. Can anyone do a link to it somewhere? Sounds sad. .

OMG ... in this day and age there is absolutely no need for children to suffer in this way! Her mum and dad ran a pub as well...surprised no-one noticed that the children were never cared for by anyone! I want to go and give my little girl loads of cuddles now!

I wanted to rush home after reading that story and give my DD a massive hug and kiss. How can anyone treat their own child like that is beyond my comprehension

wotulookinat - here it is: www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/crime/article4124189.ece

here is the story....www.metro.co.uk/news/article.html?in_article_id=174020&in_page_id=34&in_a_source=

OMG. Horrific.

That poor poor little girl, I am going to give my dd's a big hug when I collect them tonight after work, I just hope she is at peace now

Sorry, but this is what I was banging on about in the other thread about the dirty child.

If you suspect neglect then you have to do 6something^. End of. On the other thread some people were saying, well the school must know, well doing nothing is ok. No its not. If you suspect neglect, you must act in some way. Because really, really this is where it ends up if noone says anything.

Amen Anchovy! I completely agree. We were somewhat neglected as children as my mum suffered terribly from depression. I have a picture of me taken on school photo day with a big smile on my face but wearing a very dirty and torn school shirt :-( . My mum would spend alot of time in her room or on the couch and so my brother would work the tin opener to open a tin of peas for each of us for dinner.

I hadn't heard about that but reading the story in the times has just made me cry.

My God how many more times is this going to happen?

TSAM is right - its time to stop walking on by. I'm pretty sure most of us wouldn't anyway but a lot of people obviously do.

This is one of the saddest stories I've ever heard.

How ironic that many women on here have struggled to conceive or are struggling now and would have treasured that little girl's life and loved her and cared for her. The fact that there's a 12 month old who's survived this treatment is the ray of hope in this story, but the situation is so grim.

The parents are despicable and must be totally heartless.

I only hope that the authorities find the other child a good home.

The sad thing is that there are prospective parents out there who would gladly take this child on, but will be classed as too old, too fat, too poor to adopt them. So much love in the world and yet kids like this end up dead. How can we allow this to happen???

What the FUCK was wrong with them?
Hope they enjoy prison.
The best that can be said is that she's not suffering now.

no words

I wanted to say that I did report someone once and it was awful but I'm glad I did it and I would do it again. A neighbour of ours had constant problems with her dh before finally chucking him out. The police were always being called by worried neighbours as there was so much trouble and she has two dd's aged then about 3 and 6. My dd used to play with the oldest one and one several occasions we found it difficult to get her to go home as she said she hated it in her own house as mum/dad were always arguing etc. I ended up feeding her an awful lot and she spent a lot of time here. One day she came banging on the door and she had a huge red mark down her face...she was crying. She said her mum had slapped her with the back of her hand - there was a ring mark on her cheek. It was terrible. I asked what happened and she said - she's drunk again and I want some tea I haven't eaten. I knocked on the door to see if she was OK and the youngest child peered at me through the cat flap...no answer. Finally she appeared after much banging and she was clearly drunk. She was very abusive when I told her that her dd was at my house and very upset and tried to slam the door in my face. To be honest, i was so worried about the little one I went home and I phoned the police. They came round and told her that I'd made a complaint. She was reported to social services and I don't know what they did, but really shortly after that she moved house.... however, during the time that she was waiting to move she made constant threats to me and my children... my dh had to go round in the end and tell her to back off or he would call the police again. It was absolutely hideous for us all but I don't regret it. I have to say that she seemed to pull herself together after I'd called and the kids were better looked after but not allowed to come round to my house. I feel it's a really difficult thing to do because I did become a victim of her abuse after that....but for the sake of the kids I wouldn't hesitate again....

I am speechless. I just read that and I am absolutely devastated and in tears. Wish I could turn back time and take that little girl and have her as my own. I am so so so sad. Sad does not do it justice. Those parents are pure evil.

This is terrible. I just wanted to add that I have worked with a lot of groups of children, and the nature of my work meant that children would often talk to me if thing were not right at home. If they did this or if I was suspicious- injuries, withdrawn behaviour etc. I always made notes and reported it. Sadly, children in these situations are often moved around a lot by their parents- they know they are doing wrong and will move away if they think they are going to be caught - but it is right that we should speak up, even if you put yourself in the line of fire,or worry you may be wrong, as the consequences of not acting are IMO not acceptable.

Poor little thing. How anyone can do that I don't know.

At DS's family interview at school I was told that if children tell the school about anything untoward happening at home they are now obliged to tell SS rather than contact the parents. Not that a 3yr old would have that option, but it's a good thing.

However being dirty isn't neccessarily a sign of serious neglect or abuse.

Ormirian you would be surprised what 3 year olds can reveal about their home life through their behaviour. I have sadly encountered some very messed up 3 year olds.

This is saddening beyond belief.

I posted a while ago on mumsnet about children I saw in my local park, but it all turned out okay, their mum was thankful I offered a friendly ear.

In this circumstance how could anyone that saw that look away?

Even worse is their new address, a pub in Barnsley? Did they think they could just move and set up life again?

Wench, I remember that thread, glad to hear their mother was fine about it.

This story is so desperately sad. Terrible to think of her stood at that window.

sorry - wench - do you have a link to that thread you posted? I didnt see it at the time.