Baby P social workers lose appeal against sacking (From Haringey Independent)

Baby P social workers lose appeal against sacking by Haringey Borough Council

5:02pm Tuesday 12th March 2013 in News By Bruce Thain

Two social workers have lost their appeal against a tribunal ruling that they were fairly sacked following the death of Baby P.

Maria Ward and Gillie Christou claim they were unjustly dismissed by Haringey Borough Council after 17-month-old Peter Connelly died nearly six years ago.

In 2010 an employment tribunal concluded the council acted reasonably in dismissing the two women because of serious failings in their care of the child.

The pair took their case to the Court of Appeal, where Lord Justice Laws, Lord Justice Elias and Lord Justice McCombe today rejected their arguments.

Ms Ward has been Peter's nominated social worker from February 2007 until his death in August 2007, and Mrs Christou was her team manager.

Baby P'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.

Baby Peter had suffered more than 50 injuries over an eight-month period, despite being on the council's at-risk register.