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| Council tried to cover up failings after Poppi Worthington's death | Council tried to cover up failings after Poppi Worthington's death |
| (6 months later) | |
| A local authority criticised for failing to protect Poppi Worthington’s siblings for almost a year after her death did not discipline social workers and instead applied for a draconian order in an attempt to cover-up the failings, documents show. | A local authority criticised for failing to protect Poppi Worthington’s siblings for almost a year after her death did not discipline social workers and instead applied for a draconian order in an attempt to cover-up the failings, documents show. |
| Thirteen-month-old Poppi died after she was found with serious injuries at her home in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, three years ago. | Thirteen-month-old Poppi died after she was found with serious injuries at her home in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, three years ago. |
| A high court family judge concluded that Poppi’s father, Paul Worthington, sexually assaulted her shortly before her death and she died as a result of the injuries she suffered during the assault. | A high court family judge concluded that Poppi’s father, Paul Worthington, sexually assaulted her shortly before her death and she died as a result of the injuries she suffered during the assault. |
| It has been revealed that her siblings were not taken into care until after their parents were arrested in August 2013. | It has been revealed that her siblings were not taken into care until after their parents were arrested in August 2013. |
| Documents made public by Cumbria county council show that after a high court judge criticised the authority in respect of Poppi’s siblings they applied for an order to bar the media from reporting their failings. | Documents made public by Cumbria county council show that after a high court judge criticised the authority in respect of Poppi’s siblings they applied for an order to bar the media from reporting their failings. |
| John Woodcock, Barrow MP and #justiceforpoppi campaigner, has now demanded answers from local authority bosses to explain the reasons behind applying for the super injunction. | John Woodcock, Barrow MP and #justiceforpoppi campaigner, has now demanded answers from local authority bosses to explain the reasons behind applying for the super injunction. |
| “These damaging revelations will go on until all organisations involved in the Poppi Worthington tragedy end the culture of secrecy around the case and subject themselves to proper public scrutiny,” he said. | “These damaging revelations will go on until all organisations involved in the Poppi Worthington tragedy end the culture of secrecy around the case and subject themselves to proper public scrutiny,” he said. |
| “That must include the council chief executive explaining why the injunction was handled in this way and agreeing to push for immediate publication of Poppi’s serious case review which is still being withheld.” | “That must include the council chief executive explaining why the injunction was handled in this way and agreeing to push for immediate publication of Poppi’s serious case review which is still being withheld.” |
| The council applied for the secrecy order in June 2014 after a high court judge, Justice Peter Jackson, found that it had failed to put in place any adequate measures to ensure Poppi’s siblings were safe after her death. | The council applied for the secrecy order in June 2014 after a high court judge, Justice Peter Jackson, found that it had failed to put in place any adequate measures to ensure Poppi’s siblings were safe after her death. |
| The application was made by Lyn Burns, assistant director for families and children, who subsequently stepped down from her role last year after government inspectors plunged the department into special measures for the third time in four years. | The application was made by Lyn Burns, assistant director for families and children, who subsequently stepped down from her role last year after government inspectors plunged the department into special measures for the third time in four years. |
| The council’s lawyers argued in the high court that the “disclosure of alleged shortcomings by agencies might be unfair to the agencies” involved as they pressed for secrecy over the case. | The council’s lawyers argued in the high court that the “disclosure of alleged shortcomings by agencies might be unfair to the agencies” involved as they pressed for secrecy over the case. |
| But the application instead drew strong criticism from the judge for its “scattergun” approach to restricting information deemed to be in the public interest. | But the application instead drew strong criticism from the judge for its “scattergun” approach to restricting information deemed to be in the public interest. |
| Duncan McQueen from the council told the North West Evening Mail: “I can confirm that Lyn Burns, assistant director children and families, approved the application for the reporting restriction order based on advice from legal counsel.” | Duncan McQueen from the council told the North West Evening Mail: “I can confirm that Lyn Burns, assistant director children and families, approved the application for the reporting restriction order based on advice from legal counsel.” |
| He added: “While the family court identified weaknesses in practice, individual failings have not been identified in this case, and therefore no employees were disciplined or dismissed.” | He added: “While the family court identified weaknesses in practice, individual failings have not been identified in this case, and therefore no employees were disciplined or dismissed.” |
| The full details of Poppi’s death were reported for the first time earlier this year in a report published by Justice Jackson. | The full details of Poppi’s death were reported for the first time earlier this year in a report published by Justice Jackson. |
| The judge concluded that the investigation into her death was hindered by police errors; including not securing the scene, failing to take vital items for forensic analysis and a senior detective not visiting the family home. | The judge concluded that the investigation into her death was hindered by police errors; including not securing the scene, failing to take vital items for forensic analysis and a senior detective not visiting the family home. |
| Worthington, 47, was arrested and questioned on suspicion of sexual assault at the time but was never charged with any offence. He denies any wrongdoing in relation to his daughter. | Worthington, 47, was arrested and questioned on suspicion of sexual assault at the time but was never charged with any offence. He denies any wrongdoing in relation to his daughter. |
| In his judgment, Justice Jackson found that, on the civil standard of the balance of probabilities, Worthington had abused Poppi in the hours before she died. | In his judgment, Justice Jackson found that, on the civil standard of the balance of probabilities, Worthington had abused Poppi in the hours before she died. |
| Previous inquiries into the toddler’s death had either been cursory or heard in secret. An earlier fact-finding judgment into the death from March 2014, also by Jackson, had been kept private so as not to prejudice any criminal proceedings. | Previous inquiries into the toddler’s death had either been cursory or heard in secret. An earlier fact-finding judgment into the death from March 2014, also by Jackson, had been kept private so as not to prejudice any criminal proceedings. |
| A second inquest into the death of Poppi Worthington is due to take place on 18 March. | A second inquest into the death of Poppi Worthington is due to take place on 18 March. |