Baby Ps mother and boyfriend named

A court anonymity order has finally expired allowing the names of the couple responsible for the death of Baby P to be named publicly.

|PIC1|Baby Peter from Haringey, north London was found dead with more than 50 injuries, including fractured ribs and a broken back, in a property in Penshurst Road, Tottenham, in August 2007.

It has now been revealed that he died whilst under the care of his mother Tracey Connelly, 28, and her partner Steven Barker, 33. The third defendant in the case has also been identified as Jason Owen, 37, and has been named as Barker’s brother. It has emerged Owen had changed his name to avoid being connected to the killing of Peter.

In May, Connelly and Barker were given minimum terms of five and 12 years respectively for “causing or allowing” the death of Baby Peter. In a separate court case, Barker was also given a life sentence for raping a two-year-old girl.

Owen, who was staying at the family home in Tottenham, was jailed for three years.

It has also been revealed that Baby Peter had four siblings. The judge in the case had given an anonymity order so that none of the defendants could be named because the other children were still being placed with alternative carers.

Baby Peter’s father, who was unable to see his son for a number of weeks before his death had in the past spoken of his desire to see his son rest in peace.

The Anglican priest that conducted the funeral in November 2007, who only wanted to be named as Margaret, told the Church Times about her meeting with the father prior to the funeral: “He hadn’t been able to see his baby for weeks before he died three months earlier. Then officials had taken over. I felt it was important for him to have the funeral he wanted for his child, to be in control. He said his child was now ‘out of pain’. He wanted, he said, a dignified funeral ‘so he can rest in peace’.”

During the funeral, Baby Peter’s father carried his coffin into the chapel as the popular Psalm 23 was given.

As the funeral service ended, mourners listened to Eric Clapton’s famous “Tears in Heaven”, a song written after the English rock musician’s own young child died.
News
New Catholic head says lessons must be learned from abuse failings
New Catholic head says lessons must be learned from abuse failings

The newly installed Archbishop of Westminster has said the Church must learn from victims of sexual abuse.

Young adults abandon marriage as pensioners overtake under-25s - report
Young adults abandon marriage as pensioners overtake under-25s - report

The institution of marriage has undergone a dramatic transformation over the past five decades - particularly among young adults.

Iconic cathedral to run truth project during Lent
Iconic cathedral to run truth project during Lent

One of England’s most well-known, historic and picturesque cathedrals has announced plans to run a Lent series looking at truth in the modern world.