Government fails in bid to keep Baby P’s mother behind bars
The mother of Baby P, who died after months of abuse, is set to be freed from prison after the Parole Board rejected a Government challenge against its ruling to release her.
Tracey Connelly could be out of jail within weeks after board judges refused the bid by Justice Secretary Dominic Raab to keepherbehindbarsforlonger.
But Mr Raab condemned the decision and said it was proof the Parole Board needed a "fundamental overhaul".
Now40,connellywasjailedat the Old Bailey in 2009 for causing or allowing the death of her 17-month-old son Peter at their homeintottenham,northlondon, on August 3 2007.
She was released on licence in 2013 but recalled to prison in 2015 for breaching her parole conditions.
Responding to the decision, Mrraabsaidconnelly'sactions were"pureevil"andadded:"the
decision to release her demonstrates why the parole board needs a fundamental overhaul - including a ministerial check for the most serious offenders - so that it serves and protects the public."
In March, the Parole Board decided Connelly was suitable for release, having rejected three previous bids, after hearing she is now considered to be at"lowriskofcommittingafurtheroffence"andthatprobation officersandprisonofficialssupport the plan.
Butlastmonthmrraabasked the board, which is independent of government, to re-examine the decision under the socalled reconsideration mechanism.
Onthursdaytheparoleboard announcedthatapplicationhad been rejected and the original decision upheld.
A spokesman said in a statement: "Following the reconsideration application from the Secretary of State, a judge has ruled that the decision made by independent Parole Board members to release was not irrational,asstatedinthereconsideration application, and the original decision is upheld."
The reconsideration mechanism, introduced in July 2019, allowsthejusticesecretaryand the prisoner to challenge the board's decision within 21 days if they believe them to be "procedurallyunfair"or"irrational".
Victims and members of the public can also make a request via the minister. But the threshold is high and is the same as is required when seeking a judicial review in court.