Baby P social workers lose employment tribunal appeal
Tuesday 12 March 2013
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EmailTwo of Baby P's social workers lost an appeal today against an employment tribunal ruling that they were fairly sacked following the public outcry over the toddler's death.
Maria Ward and Gillie Christou claimed that they were unjustly dismissed by Haringey Council in north London after 17-month-old Peter Connelly died nearly six years ago.
An employment tribunal concluded in 2010 that the council acted reasonably in dismissing the two women because of serious failings in their care of the child.
Ms Ward, Peter's nominated social worker from February 2007 until his death in August 2007, and Ms Christou, her manager, then unsuccessfully took their case to the employment appeal tribunal before going to the Court of Appeal, which has now also rejected their arguments.
Peter had suffered more than 50 injuries despite being on an at-risk register and receiving 60 visits from police officers and health and social workers over eight months.
Peter's mother Tracey Connelly, her boyfriend Steven Barker and Barker's brother Jason Owen were jailed in 2009 for causing or allowing the toddler's death.
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