Katherine Errington, the mother of seven-year-old Archie York, who was killed in an explosion at his home in Benwell, Newcastle, in October 2024, is urging Prime Minister Andy Burnham to block the early release of manslaughter and child abuse offenders. Her son died when a blast, caused by drug dealer Reece Galbraith using butane gas to produce cannabis 'shatter' in the flat below, ripped through their home. Galbraith was jailed for 14 years after pleading guilty to two counts of manslaughter, but Archie's family were told he could be freed after serving just half his sentence under Government plans to ease prison overcrowding.
A Mother's Last Words
Katherine, 28, said: "The last words I said to Archie was that I loved him and I would see him in the morning, and I never did. That's what we all say to our children. These are the words Andy Burnham needs to hear." She has launched a petition asking that those convicted of manslaughter and child abusers also be blocked from release, following Mr Burnham's announcement that rapists and serious child sex offenders would be exempt.
Appeal to the Public
Katherine is asking the public to sign the petition, saying: "People need to put themselves into my shoes. I'm not going to be the only person that's receiving the phone call to say their loved one's killers are getting released early. No one knows the justice system until they go through it themselves, I'm still learning every day." She added: "It's like a two-tier society, they don't think it will ever happen to them. What happens if it happened to their family? They would fight tooth and nail like we are doing to keep child killers inside."
Prime Minister's Response
Mr Burnham said on Monday: "Keeping the public safe is my top priority. That's why I asked for an urgent review of the prisoner release scheme. I fully understand the anger, anxiety and distress that's been caused. I've heard that loud and clear." He added that offenders sentenced for rape, serious child sex offences and other grooming offences would be excluded from the changes, but noted that going further was not possible without the prison system collapsing.
