Dominique Raab called for a “fundamental change” in the Parole Board after it rejected a government challenge to a decision to release the mother of baby P, who died after months of violence.
Tracy Connelly could be released from prison within weeks after the commission rejected a complaint by the justice minister to keep her behind bars for longer.
Mr Raab condemned the decision, saying it was proof that the Early Release Council needed a “fundamental change”. He said Connelly’s actions were “pure evil” and she should not be released.
She was imprisoned in Old Bailey in 2009 for causing or causing the death of her 17-month-old son Peter at their home in Tottenham, north London, on 3 August 2007.
Tracy Connelly will be released from prison after the Early Release Council rejected a government challenge to his decision
(PA)
“Tracy Connelly’s cruelty to her son, baby Peter, was pure evil,” Mr Raab said.
“The decision to release shows why the Parole Board needs a major overhaul – including a ministerial check on the most serious offenders – to serve and protect society,” he added.
Connelly was released on license in 2013, but was released from prison in 2015 for violating parole.
In March, the Early Release Council decided it was eligible for release after rejecting three previous offers.
But last month, Mr Raab asked the board, which is independent of the government, to reconsider the decision under the so-called review mechanism.
On Thursday, the Parole Board announced that the application had been rejected and the initial decision upheld.
A spokesman said in a statement: “Following the request for review by the Secretary of State, the judge ruled that the decision taken by independent members of the Parole Board was not irrational, as stated in the request for review, and the original decision was upheld.”
Baby P has suffered more than 50 injuries – although he is on the risk register and has received 60 visits from social workers, police and health professionals in eight months.
Connelly confessed to the crime and was sentenced to five years in prison for public protection.
Her friend Stephen Barker and his brother Jason Owen were convicted of the same crime.
A series of reviews identified missed opportunities for employees to save a young child’s life if they responded correctly to warning signs.
This was Connelly’s fourth parole review. The decision was supposed to be made in 2021, but was delayed to get more information.
Her case was examined for the third time in 2019 after previous examinations in 2015 and 2017 and she refused to release her or move her to prison.
After being jailed, she was placed on a “very intensive” treatment program by the Department of Justice and the NHS for three years and “is now able to work openly and honestly with professionals,” the report added.
The Early Release Council said it was pleased that Connelly was eligible for release after hearing that she was now considered “at low risk of committing a new crime” and that her probation and prison staff supported the plan.
Secretary of Justice Dominique Raab was introduced during the review and his representative “confirmed that this recommendation has been accepted”, the report said.
Connelly will be subject to restrictions on her movements, activities and who she associates with, and will face 20 additional licensing terms.
These include living at a specified address, monitoring probation, wearing an electronic label, observing curfew and having to reveal your relationships.
Her use of the internet and telephone will be monitored and she has been told she cannot go to certain places to “avoid contact with victims and protect children”.
Additional reporting by the PA
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