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How could this have happened again?
THE NEWS was hard to bear last week.
The malicious killing of a little baby boy has dominated the headlines and sickened every single one of us.
Once again a child has been abused, tortured and killed while on the so-called at-risk register and despite countless visits from Haringey Council social workers.
Little “Baby P” lived for just 17 months and for most of that time he was beaten, punched and kicked so badly that his spine snapped. He suffered eight broken ribs and countless severe cuts and bruises all over his body.
There was a bad-tempered exchange in the Commons between Gordon Brown and David Cameron, which has at least resulted in an inquiry into the way social services bungled this case.
What’s really angered most people is the way no-one seems to have been held accountable for what happened to this little boy.
Not learned
It also seems no lessons have been learned since the death of Victoria Climbie in 2000. The eight-year-old also died a horrible death at the hands of her cruel aunt and at the inquiry into her killing changes were put in place that were supposed to stop this happening again.
Victoria was another child who was supposed to be under the “care” of Haringey’s social work department.
It’s just not acceptable for the likes of Sharon Shoesmith, chairwoman of Haringey Local Safeguarding Children’s Board, to lay the blame solely with the baby’s vile mother, her boyfriend and their lodger.
It was, of course, one of these wretched abusers who struck the fatal blow, but social workers had visited the filthy house at least 60 times and, despite once removing the infant from the home, allowed him to return just weeks later.
Even a consultant paediatrician failed to notice that Baby P’s back was broken and that the child was almost paralysed. How could anyone in medicine be so bad at their job?
Thanks to public anger there will be an investigation and hopefully those who made mistakes will be held to account.
I realise social workers have a tough job and there are some individuals and councils who try to do their best under really tough conditions.
Cutbacks in staff and resources make it even more difficult. Inexperienced staff often have little or no leadership and experienced old hands become overwhelmed by a sea of red tape.
Obviously they should not all be judged by the poor standards of those in Haringey.
When you take a long, hard look at the seeming incompetence of this particular local council, it’s frankly astonishing more children haven’t lost their lives.
The last thing we want is to be shaking our heads about another dead baby a few years down the line.
This is a problem that has to be dealt with right now, not swept under the carpet.
THE LEGEND that is Jeff Stelling has been offered the plum job as the new host of
Countdown.
I first met Jeff back in the ’80s when I hosted TV-am and he was our sports presenter.
He went on to present Soccer Saturday on Sky Sports, a brilliant programme for all armchair footie
fans and those coming back from the game.
Jeff sometimes sounds like a man with his trousers on fire, but he and his team make you feel as though you’re actually at the match.
While I wish him all the best in the new job on Channel 4, I sincerely hope we won’t lose him from Sky.
Saturdays just wouldn’t be the same without him.
 ON THE subject of the beautiful game, BBC Alba is showing a plethora of Scottish football games which will do wonders for their viewing figures, but I must take issue with them over a very important subject.
Last week they gave the pies at Tannadice an exceedingly low rating and I’m afraid that’s just not on.
The half-time pie at any Dundee United game is one of the sheer joys of life and should have been given at least 10 out of 10.
I WISH a very speedy recovery to former Rangers captain Craig Moore, who has been diagnosed with testicular cancer.
The 32-year-old father of two now lives back in his native Australia and plays for club Queensland Roar.
Testicular cancer, like many other forms of the disease, can be cured if it is caught early enough.
Recovery
Thankfully all the signs are that the cancer has been caught in time and, although it won’t be easy, here’s hoping Craig makes a complete recovery.
It’s encouraging that like most men these days Craig went to the doctor when he noticed a lump on his testicles and didn’t put off seeking help.
The fact he will now have immediate treatment means he has a far greater chance of seeing his kids grow up.
I wish him all the very best.
TONIGHT SEES the start of another series of I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! and what a strange collection of contestants.
There are a couple of busty girls I’ve never heard of who will fulfil the sexy shower-scene requirements.
Then there’s a matriarchal bossy boots in the form of Esther Rantzen and a dislikeable old bloke trying to revive his career (Robert
Kilroy-Silk).
And don’t forget the obligatory slightly eccentric American, to be played by George Takei, aka Mr Sulu from
Star Trek.
The most baffling piece of casting is Martina Navratilova, who’s a truly global tennis star and one of the most awesome female athletes who ever lived.
Martina is rich, famous and has nothing to prove. I’ve no idea what she is doing in there but look forward to fireworks when she’s confronted with soap stars and boy band members she won’t have heard of.
Martina will also be able to perform every single endurance task with her hands tied behind her back and
it would be a brave spider or jungle creepy-crawly to try to intimidate her.
I can’t wait.
I SINCERELY hope the BBC Scotland series Scotland’s History will be shown to every single pupil in the country.
It’s hugely enjoyable and Neil “Because I’m Worth It” Oliver might look as though he’s in a shampoo ad with that glossy mane, but the man has boundless enthusiasm and passion for his subject, making him a joy to watch.
When I was at school we were shamefully never taught Scottish history and it was only years after I had left that I started to read up
on the subject myself. Scotland’s History is what the BBC do best and is not to be missed.
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Lorraine
Kelly
