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The former Director of Child Services at Haringey council has lost her case at the High Court against unfair dismisal over the death of Baby P. Shoesmith claimed she was unfairly sacked, sighting 'technical procedure' when she was removed from her post by Children’s Secretary Ed Balls. 17-month-old Peter Connelly died at the hands of his mother and her boyfriend despite social workers, health teams and the police all knowing he was at risk. Peter died after enduring months of abuse, despite being seen by health and social services professionals 60 times in his short life. In the judicial review, an attack on how the council, Ofsted and Balls made their decision, her lawyers argued that she was made a scapegoat to allay the tabloid and public outcry over the death of Baby Peter. The council sacked her without money in lieu of notice. Today judges ruled the Secretary’s decision “cannot be impugned on the grounds of unfairness” 17 drafts of Ofsted report Critical in the case was a report from inspectors Ofsted, 16 versions of that report were produced but only the 17th, an emergency report (Joint Area Review) into child protection in Haringey recommended her sacking. Balls was criticised for announcing in a press conference that she should be dismissed without compensation despite this being a matter for the council. Ofsted inspectors insist there was no pressure from the government to toughen up their findings. Shoesmith said she is suffering with post traumatic stress syndrome and had felt like "throwing" herself "under a tube train" at times. Balls denied he had been swayed or "improperly motivated" by party politics or the media. Shoesmith became the focus of media attention after an interview in which she refused to apologise for the baby’s death.
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