Garden City toddler murdered by grandparents 'failed by system'

Garden City toddler murdered by grandparents 'failed by system'

The tragic death of two-year-old Ethan Ives-Griffiths at the hands of his grandparents, Michael and Kerry Ives, has sparked outrage and calls for accountability. Ethan, who was on the child protection register, suffered significant abuse while in their care before succumbing to a catastrophic brain injury in August 2021. His mother, Shannon Ives, was also found guilty of causing or allowing his death, highlighting the failures of social services to protect him.

Despite being on the child protection register, Ethan was not seen by social workers as frequently as required, with the last visit occurring more than three weeks before his death. Efforts to check on Ethan by social workers and health visitors were met with excuses, ultimately leading to a situation where the child was left vulnerable and unprotected. The case has raised questions about the adequacy of current protocols in monitoring at-risk children and holding social workers accountable for their actions.

Ethan’s aunt, Becky Shone, has been vocal in her criticism of the system’s failure to protect Ethan. She initiated an online petition calling for improved protocols, such as automatically escalating cases to the police for welfare checks if access is denied. Additionally, she advocates for more frequent checks on children on the protection register, suggesting a timeframe of five to seven days to ensure their safety. The tragedy has exposed the shortcomings in safeguarding vulnerable children and highlights the need for systemic changes in child protection services.

The North Wales Safeguarding Board is conducting an independent child practice review to investigate the circumstances surrounding Ethan’s death and the involvement of various agencies. The Welsh government has pledged to consider the findings of the review and take steps to address any systemic issues identified. As the community mourns the loss of Ethan, there is a collective call for justice and reform to prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future

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