The poor 17 month old -died of broken back

[skydancer1]

I just find these kind of stories of extreme abuse so very upsetting and wish we had better safeguards in place to stop such hideous harm happening or at least continuing (when it's pretty obvious!) to helpless children. Why on earth did the doctor not examine a child because he was already on an at risk register and was 'cranky and miserable' at an appointment and hence he/she failed to notice broken back and ribs? It beggars belief. I'm not a punitive 'hang them flog them' type (in fact I'm strongly against corporal punishment) but in this instance I think the mother should be forcibly sterilised to prevent her ever hurting or 'allowing' such hurt to any other child.

This is heartbreaking. Have hugged my little DS and tried to imagine how anyone could possibly hurt a child once, let alone tortune one repeatedly. What kind of world do we live in?

Re SS, it is a terrible systemic failing. On a slightly different note, I think people are brave to take on this kind of job when the consequences of making a mistake are just so high. Any social workers out there doing good jobs, I really admire you, dealing with the real dregs of society every day and taking these terrible decisions. Individual social workers must surely be doing their best in difficult circumstances. The real evil here are parents who could do that to a child.

Poor little P, I hope there is a heaven and you are with all the angels.

Jesus Penthisilea

Wel done for making me feel sick to the stomach. Of course this is horrific, I was just trying to say that over vigilance could be harmful too, as has been proven many times, as some regular mumsnetters have found.

This is clearly an awful case but why get all up in arms about this one case? These things are happening everywhere, every day. It's not a case of take them away and string up the parents. It's far more difficult.

saggyhairyarse - I am totally in agreement with you apart from where you say the mother did nothing. She did do something she was part and parcel of his suffering - she knew -she covered up ( can't say if she did actually harm her own child as I do not know) and worse of all she put some torturing bastard and a fucking torturing no mark lodger of 5 weeks higher up her list than her own flesh and blood - She gave birth to that baby. Ooh I can't even say what I want to for fear of offending some of you!

Apologies, AIWAW.

You're right - there are other cases too, etc.

But mightn't overvigilance have been better in this instance?

There was no mention of any other children but maybe the boyfriend had previous children although that wouldn't explain why the mother wasn't identified. It's possible they face other charges.

I deliver safeguarding training and I'm as disgusted as everyone else. It's absolutely heartbreaking.

I can't believe their legal dept didn't think this case met the threshold for care proceedings.

Just watched newsnight and broke down in uncontrollable flood of tears - I cannot believe human being can do this to a child they must be sick - poor poor baby - rest in peace now...

I'm with you, Zahrah

Penthesileia - no you say what is fact and ONE child has suffered at the hands of three total and utter wastes of space. A child that has not been allowed to grow old and enjoy what our children are goijng through at the moment (which is sleeping soundly in their beds, warm, fed and loved)

and I forgot to add to Penthesileia catalogue of torture.

His back was broken!

Thanks for that , in case any of us had missed that.

Zahrah, when I said the mother did nothing it was in the context of 'It makes me sick to my stomach that Baby Ps own mother did nothing, SS did nothing, the Dr did nothing. People (the mothers friend and other people who initiated SS involvement) did do something, but the very people who should have pulled out all the stops allowed the abuse to continue.'. Not that she did nothing wrong, of course she is as much to blame! That goes without saying!

she viewed porn and chatted online whilst her son of 17 months was being tortured! And that's normal?

Yes, overvigilance can be harmful but vigilance is not harmful, and there was no vigilance in this case whatsoever.

I would love to see what was written in the 60 home visit reports of these social workers. OK, OK they are all overworked, but how did this go on and on and on and on. This wasn't just a one-off attack. This was systematic torture with visible signs.

Everybody failed to protect this child. No-body did their job properly. Not the police, not the SS, not the health visitor, not the parents, not the grandparents, not the friends, not the doctors, not the neighbours. Maybe a few people tried along the way, but not hard enough.

I cannot bear to think about other children having to go through what that little mite went through. One child every week dies in this country at the hands of their carers or parents.

We all have to keep our eyes open, but what are we supposed to do when those in the know don't act on the obvious signs.

that poor poor little man what a life god they are monsters he must have been in so much pain

Is anyone here saying it is?

Emmapr, that is what I want to know? What can we actually do?

I know saggy and I realise that you are trying to say something that most of us would try to comprehend - she did nothing to stop the abuse because that is how you and I would think in a normal mind. Nope this piece of shit should'nt be allowed to have any get out clauses.

Bastards - bastards - my heart is aching for the poor little chap

RIP baby boy - you are free from pain now

No get out clause from me.

I have said that 'Baby Ps own mother did nothing, SS did nothing, the Dr did nothing.....the very people who should have pulled out all the stops allowed the abuse to continue'. I don't think anyone would interpret that as a get out clause. It is a failing of the worst kind.

RIP Baby P

All I think I can do is be alert to the signs that a child is being hurt. My friend's children, my neighbours's children etc.

I have just read the time line of events again online and still can't believe that this child was not put into care. Was the mother really that deceptive and manipulative? As other posters have said "lessons will be learnt". Oh, will they really.

I know it's wrong and a totally emotional response.

But give me one hour in a room with the bastards that did this and I would be like them.

Speaking to colleagues about this and everyone is the same.

Aside from that, this story is so shocking it's beyond belief. 60 visits and they didn't notice something seriously wrong, oh forgive me, they did.

The woman in this case put cream on the wounds and covered them in chocolate. That to me is very scheming. I know children that have been taken from families for so much less than this. I regularly have contact with SW's and to be honest, some of them are fresh out of college and do not have a clue. There is no consistency. An older, more experienced SW may have picked this up. Another may have let the mother put them off because they were a nightmare family and she didn't particularly want to visit on that day. Remember Lisa Arthurworrey, who didn't want to catch nits? If there was a procedure that happened every time a child is injured, like their is with, for instance arrest, then I would gladly be questioned and investigated if it saved one child from this. Sadly, this will never happen and if it did, remember Fran Lyon. Systems are at fault here and I really hope that things change.

I am praying that you are somewhere happy Baby P.x

It is too late thought isn't it. That poor child. I have just read the timeline and cannot believe he had to die to escape the abuse.

The council is responsible and there should be resignations for this and serious policies/changes put in place - what changed as a result of Victoria Climbile? Nothing? This happened in the same services - a few streets away!

Apoligies if this has already been discussed I have not read the entire thread

Eternal rest give unto him Oh Lord and let perpetual light shine upon him.

May he rest in peace.

Sleep tight Baby.