Baby P social workers lose appeal
Two social workers involved with Baby Peter Donnelly have lost an appeal against a tribunal ruling that they were fairly sacked.
The Employment Appeal Tribunal ruled this morning that Gillie Christou and Maria Ward that Haringey LBC acted reasonably in dismissing them, following the boy’s tragic death in 2007.
Speaking after the hearing, solicitor, Riz Majid, who represented the two women, said they plan to appeal.
The two women had appealed against an earlier employment tribunal, which had concluded that the London borough acted reasonably in dismissing them, because of serious failings in their care of the child.
A spokesman for Haringey LBC said: ‘We welcome today’s ruling by the Employment Appeals Tribunal.
‘Ms Ward and Mrs Christou were dismissed from Haringey Council for gross misconduct and the original employment tribunal judgement vindicated our decision to end their employment with the council.
‘Our focus, as always, remains on continued improvements to our children’s safeguarding service, as validated by Ofsted.’
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