THE family of murdered infant Carla-Nicole Bone last night condemned as a
"whitewash" a report clearing care workers of any blame for her death.
The grandparents of the 13-month-old girl said they were "appalled" by the
findings of an independent investigation into her death at the hands of her
mother’s boyfriend.
Although the report said that care workers should learn lessons from the case,
it concluded they could not have predicted, nor prevented, Carla-Nicole’s
murder.
Carla-Nicole died after a frenzied attack by Alexander McClure, 27, a labourer,
at a remote cottage which he shared with the child’s mother near Huntly,
Aberdeenshire, in May last year.
He picked up the child by the legs and repeatedly "swung her like a pendulum"
against a wall, crushing her skull.
McClure was jailed for life last September. Carla-Nicole’s mother, Andrea, 20,
was jailed for three years for failing to protect her daughter from him.
The child’s grandparents claim that, in the months before the murder, they
repeatedly warned social workers of the danger posed by McClure.
But yesterday’s report, by child-care experts Anne Black and Anne Burgham,
rejected the accusations and laid the blame firmly on family and neighbours for
not doing more to help social workers.
They said: "The responsibility for protecting children rests with the whole
community, and agencies need the collaboration of members of the public to allow
them to fulfil their duties in protecting children."
The report, commissioned by the North East of Scotland Child Protection
Committee (NESCPC), concluded that care services "could not have foreseen" the
murder.
The authors said: "The report finds the work with Carla-Nicole and her family by
professionals was extensive and that much was done to try to secure a better
level of care for her. Even if all the proposals and recommendations in the
report were to be fully adopted by everyone, no agency or group of agencies will
be able to prevent all child deaths or abuse."
Last night, both Carla-Nicole’s grandfather, Carl Bone, and paternal
grandmother, Liz Berry, were furious with the report’s findings.
Mrs Berry claimed that shortly after Andrea Bone split with their son -
Carla-Nicole’s father, David Shorrock - and set up home with McClure, they
contacted social workers eight or nine times to tell them of their fears for
their grand-daughter’s safety.
The report said only two calls were received and one of these was anonymous.
Mrs Berry said: "This report is nothing more than a cover-up. Had the social
services acted when we contacted them, I am convinced Carla-Nicole would still
be alive today.
"We wanted them to carry out a check on McClure because we suspected he was
violent. We now know just how violent he is."
During the six-month investigation, Ms Black and Ms Burgham criticised social
workers for failing to have a system in place which allowed them to exchange
vital information. Had this existed, the report states minor changes in
Carla-Nicole’s health could have been noted and acted upon.
But it is Bone’s friends and family who are singled out for the most severe
criticism.
Unveiling the 88-page report in Aberdeen, Ms Burgham said: "A lot came out in
court which if mentioned to social services at the time could have seen a
different outcome in the matter."
Andrea Bone, found guilty of culpable homicide, is appealing against her
conviction. She had originally been charged with murder by wilfully failing to
protect her daughter.
Colin Mackenzie, the director of social work for Aberdeenshire Council, added:
"More information about general concerns were raised in court, but we have the
benefit of hindsight."
Related topic
Carla-Nicole Bone murder
