Councils face abuse trial


Councils face abuse trial 01 October 2006 Source: Luton News on Sunday Three children will begin a unique High Court fight next week for compensation from two local authorities they allege left them exposed to physical and sexual abuse by their families for years. The youngsters, named only as A, B and C for legal reasons, are suing Bedfordshire County Council and Luton Borough Council in a five-day case that could net them tens of thousands of pounds in damages. Their lawyers say that although the troubled family first became known to the local authorities in 1992, it wasn’t until 2000 that the children, who have different fathers but the same mother, were finally taken into care. In a summary of the case presented to the court, it is alleged that the children’s brother, D, was reported to be suffering a bruised face in August 1992. A child protection conference was held in September that year and there were ‘numerous’ further contacts between the councils and the family. In the autumn of 1992, A, the eldest daughter, was placed on the child protection register. In August 1994 B was taken to hospital by his mother and was found to have suffered a fractured skull and haematoma with the medical evidence contradicting claims it was an accident, the children’s legal team claims. Just seven months later, A reported she had been indecently assaulted by her maternal grandfather and her mother backed up her claims. The authorities were told in December 1996 that the mother was abusing heroin and in April 1997 someone called and said the mother had been seen beating the children when high on drugs. The children are suing under the Local Authority Services Act 1970 and say the councils failed to protect them from a ‘foreseeable risk’ of harm. The councils admit they owed the children a duty of care, but deny they were negligent or breached their duty under the law. The children’s solicitor, Robert Bedford said outside the court in London: “We claim these children should have been taken into care much sooner than they were and that they suffered psychological injuries as a result.” other articles: Orkney abuse woman's £100,000 bid Judge Condemns Council Staff
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