Chloe Fahey aged 5
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Manchester Social Services Investigation has been launched into the social services Girl Stabbed 52 Times 'Could Have Been Saved' Sky News January 13, 2010 A damning report has criticised authorities for ignoring a series of warnings that could have saved the life of a five-year-old girl killed by her mother. Chloe Fahey was stabbed 52 times by Aisling Murray in a ritualistic killing at her house in Stretford, Greater Manchester in June 2003. The mother-of-two, who suffers from paranoid schizophrenia, was in a catatonic state when police arrived at the property. Murray had stripped her child's bedroom of fixtures and fittings, removed all the wallpaper, and turned the bed into an altar before attacking the little girl. Murray had been discharged from hospital by Bolton, Salford and Trafford Mental Health Trust a few weeks before the killing. A report for the NHS North West has now concluded that a number of warnings were missed by the authorities which could have saved the child's life. After Murray was discharged from hospital, Chloe's father, David Fahey, made repeated calls to the emergency services for help, while teachers at her school also dialled 999 expressing their concern. The family has found their involvement with social services to be a bruising and disenchanting encounter. Report slams authorities over killing by Aisling Murray: Murray attacked Mr Fahey the night before the killing and she was arrested. Officers took her to hospital but she was later discharged, and he moved out. Just hours before Chloe's death, a Trafford community mental health team had visited Murray but did not admit her to hospital. Later that evening, her family went to a police station and begged officers to go to the house. They did but left after speaking to her through a window. Then a short while later, neighbours heard Chloe beg for her life before she was stabbed to death. The report said the care provided was "sadly lacking" and the family were left isolated, while their needs were "consistently ignored". "The family has found their involvement with social services to be a bruising and disenchanting encounter," it said, adding the main social worker tasked with looking after Murray was inexperienced. Better communication across all agencies and particularly with carers and families is needed, while social workers treating mentally ill patients must be experienced, according to the report. Murray was detained indefinitely in a secure mental unit after pleading guilty to murder, but this was replaced by manslaughter with diminished responsibility by the court of appeal 18 months ago. Bolton, Salford and Trafford Mental Health Trust, now known as Greater Manchester West Mental Health Trust, Trafford Council and Greater Manchester Police have already implemented the recommendations, the report added. |
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