Woman who stood by and let her son be tortured 'no longer poses danger to the public'
- Tracey Connelly, 32, of Haringey, north London, jailed indefinitely in 2009
- Boy tortured to death in 2007 by her boyfriend and his paedophile brother
- But Connelly has now applied to Parole Board to have her case reviewed
By MARK DUELL
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Baby Peter’s mother could be freed in days after spending six years in jail, it was claimed last night.
Tracey Connelly was jailed indefinitely in 2009 after admitting doing nothing while her 17-month-old boy was tortured to death by her boyfriend Steven Barker and his paedophile brother Jason Owen.
But experts told the Sunday Mirror yesterday that 32-year-old Connelly, of Haringey, north London - whose mother Mary O'Connor said she should never be released - poses ‘no danger to the public’.
Awful crime: Tracey Connelly (left), 32, of Haringey, north London, was jailed indefinitely in 2009 after admitting doing nothing while her son Baby P (right) was tortured to death by her boyfriend and his paedophile brother
Connelly - who is at Low Newton jail in Brasside, County Durham - has applied to the Parole Board to have her case reviewed after spending her minimum term taking into account time on remand.
A source close to the case told the newspaper: ‘Connelly appeared before a parole board at the end of July when the members asked for further reports.
A shortage of suitable bail hostel places could keep her in prison for a few days after her release is approved, although she might otherwise be out within 24 hours, reported the Sunday Mirror.
Peter was found dead in his blood-spattered cot at his mother's flat in August 2007, after suffering a catalogue of horrifying injuries including a broken back.
Leaving? Connelly - who is at Low Newton jail (pictured) in Brasside, County Durham - has applied to the Parole Board to have her case reviewed after spending her minimum term taking into account time on remand
News of Connelly's possible release was met with horror from Mrs O'Connor, 63, who said her daughter should remain locked up for life.
'The only way the board could keep her in is if they think she is still a danger'
Source close to case
‘She should never come out,’ she told The Sun. ‘But even if she does I won’t be seeing her again, she’s out of my life.’
Mrs O’Connor, who previously spoken of her daughter's extreme weight gain in prison, said Connelly hoped the two women could start a new life in Kent - but she had no desire to be reunited with her daughter.
She attacked two of her children and stood by while Peter was tortured to death by Barker and Owen. At the trial, Connelly denied knowing who had caused the injuries to her son.
Peter suffered sickening injuries including a broken spine, injured ribs and removed fingernails - all of which was missed by social service workers.
Indefinite sentences: Tracey Connelly's boyfriend Steven Barker (left) and his paedophile brother Jason Owen (right) were both convicted of causing or allowing Peter's death
Criticised: Sharon Shoesmith, the former children's services chief in Haringey, waged a long battle to clear herself of any personal responsibility for the tragedy
Three of the children - Peter and two of his siblings - were on Haringey's Child Protection Register because of fears they were being neglected by their mother.
'She should never come out. But even if she does I won’t be seeing her again, she’s out of my life'
Mary O'Connor, Tracey Connelly's mother
Social workers, health visitors and doctors saw the family 60 times before Peter died from his injuries.
Sharon Shoesmith, the former children’s services chief in Haringey, waged a long battle to clear herself of any personal responsibility for the tragedy.
She expressed ‘sorrow’ for Peter’s death, but has never apologised for her role in her department’s failings.
Barker and Owen were both convicted of causing or allowing Peter's death after he was found in his cot. They were given indefinite sentences of 10 and three-year tariffs respectively.
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