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'KIDS ARE GOING TO DIE'

Astonishing claims from Baby P social services boss who was sacked over death as she admits she made money out of tragedy

SHARON Shoesmith continues to dodge responsibility as she plugs a new book written about the horror murder

THE social services boss who was sacked over Baby P's death has said it is inevitable more children will be killed as "social workers can't predict where each death is going to be".

Sharon Shoesmith, who was the head of Haringey council social services when little Peter Connelly died, astonishingly claimed social services can't prevent more children being killed as she promoted her new book this morning.

 Sharon Shoesmith said it is inevitable children will be killed
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Sharon Shoesmith said it is inevitable children will be killedCredit: Rex Features
 Shoesmith was sacked over the death of Baby P, who was failed by Haringey Council
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Shoesmith was sacked over the death of Baby P, who was failed by Haringey CouncilCredit: PA:Press Association

Speaking on Good Morning Britain, she said one child has died a week in the UK over the past 40 years, adding: "That hasn't changed no matter what we seem to do."

The shamed social worker, who continued to dodge responsibility for the tragedy, said: "The public were misled through the story of Peter Connelly and his death, social workers can not predict where each death is going to be.

"I would compare it to terrorism - our Prime Minister will say 'we're on high alert, there will be an event here, we will miss one'. I think there are parallels with familial child homicide - we will miss one."

 Shoesmith continued to dodge responsibility for her role in failing the child
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Shoesmith continued to dodge responsibility for her role in failing the childCredit: Rex Features

Astonishingly Shoesmith, who has written a book relating to her experience with the tragic case, continues to shift blame from herself.

When host Piers Morgan suggested "the reason you lost your job was because you were the boss and the system under you failed so badly a young baby died", Shoesmith responded: "No it isn't. The reality is familial child homicide is a hugely difficult issue in this country and I would say you are denying that."

Contesting Haringey council's decision to sack her as children's services boss, she said: "If we're going to sack a director every time there's a case of familial homicide, we'll turn over the number of directors by 25% on an annual basis."

Shockingly Shoesmith also admitted she "hadn't thought about" what she would do with the money she makes writing about the baby's death.

When Piers suggested people may find it distasteful she is making money off the tragedy and doing a media tour, she said: "When you do a PhD you contribute to knowledge and I would say my book contributes to knowledge about this whole issue of familial child homicide.

"It's more of an academic book, although it will have a wider readership.

Shoesmith denied claims she received £600,000 in compensation after winning an unfair dismissal claim in the wake of being sacked, but would not say how much she did receive.

She said: "I haven't even thought about the money from the book or how much money will be earned. I lost my job almost 10 years ago when I was 55, I'm 63 now.

 Shoesmith admitted she 'hasn't thought about' giving the money she makes off her book away
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Shoesmith admitted she 'hasn't thought about' giving the money she makes off her book awayCredit: Rex Features
 Piers Morgan suggested people may find her profiting off the tragedy distasteful
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Piers Morgan suggested people may find her profiting off the tragedy distastefulCredit: Rex Features

"I've had no paid employment in that time, I didn't receive £600,00. I've paid fees for my PhD so I haven't really thought about giving away this money."

Shoesmith also told Piers and Susanna Reid she has escaped the "finger-pointing" she received after Baby P died, adding: "Large numbers of people contact me and people will approach me and say it was shocking how I was treated. I've had more of that over the past two or three years."

She added: "We've all allowed social workers to become stigmatised and my book says a lot about why that is the case."

 Baby P died at the hands of his evil mum and her sick boyfriend
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Baby P died at the hands of his evil mum and her sick boyfriendCredit: Getty Images
 Haringey Council, the health service and police failed to spot warning signs that could have saved the babys life
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Haringey Council, the health service and police failed to spot warning signs that could have saved the babys lifeCredit: Nicholas Razzell

Shocking new figures show more than 3/4 of children's social services aren't good enough.

Baby P died at the hands of his mother Tracey Connelly, her boyfriend, Steven Barker, and his brother, Jason Owen.

Peter suffered more than 50 injuries over eight months and was seen by a string of social workers, the Metropolitan Police and health professional who all missed warning signs that could have saved the toddler's life.

Shoesmith was fired after a damning report exposed a catalogue of failures by Haringey's child protection services, leading to mounting pressure from politicians and the media for her to resign.


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