Seventeen years after a case that horrified Britain and triggered a national outcry over child protection failures, Tracey Connelly has faced parole judges to determine if she should be released back into society.
The 42-year-old mother, whose son Peter Connelly became known to the world as 'Baby P', appeared via video link from prison during a hearing that will decide her fate. Her son's brutal death in August 2007, at just 17 months old, exposed catastrophic failures in Haringey Council's safeguarding systems and led to major reforms in child protection procedures.
A Catalogue of Horrific Abuse
Baby Peter endured months of unimaginable suffering despite being on the at-risk register and receiving 60 visits from social workers, police and health professionals in the eight months before his death. The final post-mortem examination revealed:
- Eight broken ribs and a broken back
- Numerous bruises and cuts across his body
- A torn frenulum (the skin connecting lip to gum)
- Missing fingernails and severe head injuries
Medical experts described his injuries as among the worst they had ever encountered in a child abuse case.
The Household of Horrors
Connelly lived in a chaotic household in Haringey, north London, with her violent boyfriend Steven Barker and his brother Jason Owen. The court heard how she failed to protect her vulnerable son from the systematic abuse meted out by Barker, who was later revealed to be the child's primary tormentor.
In 2009, Connelly was sentenced to an indefinite term for causing or allowing her son's death, with a minimum term of five years. This parole hearing represents her latest attempt to secure freedom after previous bids were rejected in 2015, 2017 and 2019.
Ongoing Risk Assessment
The Parole Board must determine whether Connelly still poses a risk to the public, particularly to children. Her history of "difficulty forming positive relationships" and "manipulative behaviour" noted in previous psychological assessments will be crucial factors in their decision.
During her time in prison, Connelly has reportedly participated in rehabilitation programmes and shown some remorse for her failure to protect Peter. However, child protection charities and campaigners have expressed serious concerns about her potential release.
The decision from the Parole Board is expected to be delivered in the coming weeks, potentially bringing one of Britain's most distressing child abuse cases back into the public spotlight and testing whether justice has truly been served for Baby Peter.
