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| Sacked Baby P chief defends case | Sacked Baby P chief defends case |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| The ex-head of children's services at Haringey Council has said the way ministers handled the Baby P affair was "breathtakingly reckless". | The ex-head of children's services at Haringey Council has said the way ministers handled the Baby P affair was "breathtakingly reckless". |
| Sharon Shoesmith spoke to BBC Radio 4's Weekend Woman's Hour and to the Guardian in her first interviews since being dismissed in December. | Sharon Shoesmith spoke to BBC Radio 4's Weekend Woman's Hour and to the Guardian in her first interviews since being dismissed in December. |
| She said she considered suicide, was the victim of a press "witch-hunt", and was "blatantly discredited" by Ofsted. | She said she considered suicide, was the victim of a press "witch-hunt", and was "blatantly discredited" by Ofsted. |
| Baby P suffered over 50 injuries by the time of his death in August 2007. | Baby P suffered over 50 injuries by the time of his death in August 2007. |
| Ms Shoesmith, 55, told Radio 4's Woman's Hour that she "grapples" with carrying personal responsibility for his death every day. | Ms Shoesmith, 55, told Radio 4's Woman's Hour that she "grapples" with carrying personal responsibility for his death every day. |
| In an interview following a damning Ofsted report into her department's shortcomings, she told the BBC it was a "very difficult" question. | In an interview following a damning Ofsted report into her department's shortcomings, she told the BBC it was a "very difficult" question. |
| Baby P had been on the north London council's "at risk" register and Ms Shoesmith said public accountability goes to the heart of the case. | Baby P had been on the north London council's "at risk" register and Ms Shoesmith said public accountability goes to the heart of the case. |
| Baby P died from abuse despite 60 visits from authorities | Baby P died from abuse despite 60 visits from authorities |
| "Of course I've been distressed about this, of course I have, and had many sleepless nights over it," she said. | "Of course I've been distressed about this, of course I have, and had many sleepless nights over it," she said. |
| "But if there's a young person killed through knife crime this weekend, and I hope there isn't, do we expect the borough commander of that London borough to resign? We don't, we don't." | "But if there's a young person killed through knife crime this weekend, and I hope there isn't, do we expect the borough commander of that London borough to resign? We don't, we don't." |
| Ms Shoesmith, who lost an appeal last month against her dismissal, also defended herself against a highly critical, 16-page Ofsted report and her decision not to resign | Ms Shoesmith, who lost an appeal last month against her dismissal, also defended herself against a highly critical, 16-page Ofsted report and her decision not to resign |
| She said: "I was inundated to resign from people who didn't know me, didn't know anything about me. | She said: "I was inundated to resign from people who didn't know me, didn't know anything about me. |
| "I was equally inundated by so many people asking me not to go, to be strong, how could they help me, please hang on in there, we know it's difficult, we need you, don't go." | "I was equally inundated by so many people asking me not to go, to be strong, how could they help me, please hang on in there, we know it's difficult, we need you, don't go." |
| She added that to resign would have been the weakest thing to do because her staff needed her so much at that time. Without being dramatic, I think when people are in the eye of the storm, as I was, you do consider how you might end it all and, of course, I did that Sharon Shoesmith | She added that to resign would have been the weakest thing to do because her staff needed her so much at that time. Without being dramatic, I think when people are in the eye of the storm, as I was, you do consider how you might end it all and, of course, I did that Sharon Shoesmith |
| The inspectors' report into her department criticised everything from insufficient supervision by senior management to poor record-keeping and a failure to identify children at immediate risk of harm. | The inspectors' report into her department criticised everything from insufficient supervision by senior management to poor record-keeping and a failure to identify children at immediate risk of harm. |
| Children's Secretary Ed Balls removed Ms Shoesmith from her post on 1 December 2008 but she remained on full pay while the council considered her case. | Children's Secretary Ed Balls removed Ms Shoesmith from her post on 1 December 2008 but she remained on full pay while the council considered her case. |
| She was fired without pay shortly afterwards. | She was fired without pay shortly afterwards. |
| She said Ofsted's inspectors gave her no opportunity to discuss their findings and that the good practices drawn to their attention were omitted from their report. | She said Ofsted's inspectors gave her no opportunity to discuss their findings and that the good practices drawn to their attention were omitted from their report. |
| "The first time I saw that report was when it was already published on a website accessible to the public," she said. | "The first time I saw that report was when it was already published on a website accessible to the public," she said. |
| "The first time I knew any inkling of the degree of criticism in it was watching the Secretary of State live on television." | "The first time I knew any inkling of the degree of criticism in it was watching the Secretary of State live on television." |
| 'Party political issue' | 'Party political issue' |
| Baby P's mother admitted in court causing or allowing the boy's death and her boyfriend and lodger, Jason Owen, 36, were convicted of the same offence and await sentence. | Baby P's mother admitted in court causing or allowing the boy's death and her boyfriend and lodger, Jason Owen, 36, were convicted of the same offence and await sentence. |
| Ms Shoesmith has been criticised for comments she made shortly after the convictions including that she was satisfied her department had acted appropriately. | Ms Shoesmith has been criticised for comments she made shortly after the convictions including that she was satisfied her department had acted appropriately. |
| At the time she also said: "The very sad fact is that we can't stop people who are determined to kill children." | At the time she also said: "The very sad fact is that we can't stop people who are determined to kill children." |
| Reflecting on the events, she told the BBC: "Maybe one of the things we misjudged was the public opinion in this... interviewers are going to ask me 'can you guarantee there won't be any more deaths?' and that's a very difficult question. | Reflecting on the events, she told the BBC: "Maybe one of the things we misjudged was the public opinion in this... interviewers are going to ask me 'can you guarantee there won't be any more deaths?' and that's a very difficult question. |
| "In many ways I had to answer it honestly and the public didn't want to hear that honest answer." | "In many ways I had to answer it honestly and the public didn't want to hear that honest answer." |
| Ms Shoesmith also told the BBC that in her bleakest moments she contemplated taking her own life. | Ms Shoesmith also told the BBC that in her bleakest moments she contemplated taking her own life. |
| "Without being dramatic, I think when people are in the eye of the storm, as I was, you do consider how you might end it all and, of course, I did that. | "Without being dramatic, I think when people are in the eye of the storm, as I was, you do consider how you might end it all and, of course, I did that. |
| "I don't think I would have done, I was still rational, but I certainly had those sorts of thoughts." | "I don't think I would have done, I was still rational, but I certainly had those sorts of thoughts." |
| She went on to say she was shocked the case had become a "party political issue" and that to be named in the Commons in Prime Ministers' Questions was "very unusual". | She went on to say she was shocked the case had become a "party political issue" and that to be named in the Commons in Prime Ministers' Questions was "very unusual". |
| 'Arouse suspicions' | 'Arouse suspicions' |
| "They've tried to dig up all kinds of things about me, they've said all sorts of things," she said. | "They've tried to dig up all kinds of things about me, they've said all sorts of things," she said. |
| "The story became me... one of the reasons was because I was the only image connected with the story, the reporting restrictions hadn't been lifted... the picture of the child hadn't been released." | "The story became me... one of the reasons was because I was the only image connected with the story, the reporting restrictions hadn't been lifted... the picture of the child hadn't been released." |
| She also revealed that the first time she saw Baby P was when his photograph was published in a newspaper. | She also revealed that the first time she saw Baby P was when his photograph was published in a newspaper. |
| Ms Shoesmith again defended her department over Baby P's death. | Ms Shoesmith again defended her department over Baby P's death. |
| "Across that period what is important to understand is that social workers or indeed health visitors were not going into a home and seeing a badly injured child... of course they weren't. | "Across that period what is important to understand is that social workers or indeed health visitors were not going into a home and seeing a badly injured child... of course they weren't. |
| "They were seeing a child where there was some concern, but it wasn't enough. It was enough to arouse their suspicions, but it wasn't enough to meet the threshold for care proceedings. | "They were seeing a child where there was some concern, but it wasn't enough. It was enough to arouse their suspicions, but it wasn't enough to meet the threshold for care proceedings. |
| Listen to the full interview on Weekend Woman's Hour, BBC Radio 4, 1600 GMT, Sat 7 February. | Listen to the full interview on Weekend Woman's Hour, BBC Radio 4, 1600 GMT, Sat 7 February. |