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Inquiry after child's pub death | Inquiry after child's pub death |
(30 minutes later) | |
An inquiry has been launched by council officials into the circumstances surrounding the death of a three-year-old who was left to starve. | An inquiry has been launched by council officials into the circumstances surrounding the death of a three-year-old who was left to starve. |
Tiffany Wright was neglected and left in "filth and squalor" by her parents in the Sheffield pub they ran. | Tiffany Wright was neglected and left in "filth and squalor" by her parents in the Sheffield pub they ran. |
Her mother, Sabrina Hirst, 22, was jailed for 12 years for manslaughter and her husband Robert Hirst, 44, for five years for child cruelty. | Her mother, Sabrina Hirst, 22, was jailed for 12 years for manslaughter and her husband Robert Hirst, 44, for five years for child cruelty. |
A serious case review is being carried out by the city's children's' board. | A serious case review is being carried out by the city's children's' board. |
In a statement, Alan Jones of the Safeguarding Children Board said: "We are deeply saddened by the death of this child and that she did not benefit from the support services available to Sheffield children. | In a statement, Alan Jones of the Safeguarding Children Board said: "We are deeply saddened by the death of this child and that she did not benefit from the support services available to Sheffield children. |
'Shocking' details | 'Shocking' details |
"The details of the court case and the severity of the sentences on the parents indicate that this case of neglect is exceptional and particularly shocking. | "The details of the court case and the severity of the sentences on the parents indicate that this case of neglect is exceptional and particularly shocking. |
"We always try to take effective action when a child is thought to be at risk and the organisations in Sheffield work together to make sure that children remain safe in our city. | |
"It is particularly difficult for staff to do this when the harm by parents is deliberate and they are evasive, untruthful and manipulative." | |
He said family friends and neighbours were sometimes more aware of the risks to a child than the authorities. | |
And he urged people concerned about a child's welfare or safety to contact the authority. | |
"There are lots of services to help parents who are struggling to cope with parenting, so we call on parents and carers to contact us if they need help. | "There are lots of services to help parents who are struggling to cope with parenting, so we call on parents and carers to contact us if they need help. |
"We have already announced that we are carrying out a serious case review, which is looking at the circumstances surrounding this death and identify lessons that we should learn and this will be published in due course." |