‘Defensible’ decision kept Declan off protection list

THE decision not to place a toddler murdered by his drug addict mother on the child protection register from birth “was defensible,” councillors heard.

Tim Huntingford, chairman of Renfrewshire Child Protection Committee, made the claim during questioning from councillors considering a report into child protection failings in the case of Declan Hainey.

Declan was killed by Kimberley Hainey, 37, at their home in Bruce Road, Paisley.

She concealed his death until his body was discovered in March 2010, eight months after he was last seen alive.

Hainey was jailed for 15 years for murder.

The cause of Declan’s death has not been established but a damning report into the role of NHS and Renfrewshire Council’s child protection provision made 16 recommendations for changes to the way both bodies work.

A serious case review found that health and social care professionals tried and failed to visit Declan and his mother 18 times.

It also warned that concerns had been raised about Hainey’s untrustworthiness before Declan was born.

Councillor Tommy Williams asked about the assessment carried out by council and health professionals before Declan was born in April 2008.

Mr Huntingford said: “The list of concerns raised in the report was not deemed to be operative at the time, and therefore there was no need for action.

“Up to the first birthday of the child, that decision was defensible.”

However he accepted that after Declan’s first birthday, which was one of the last times the child was seen alive, the case changed.

Councillor Tommy Williams, a former social worker, said that if measures had been taken, the council could have forced entry to Hainey’s home.

He added: “Why was so much faith put in Kimberley Hainey?”

Mr Huntingford responded by saying: “I think that’s looking at it with hindsight.

“In the first year of Declan’s life, no-one, not a GP, a health visitor, a neighbour, nobody raised concerns.

“I don’t think there was enough evidence that would have convinced the appropriate authorities that child protection measures were required.”

Council chief executive David Marin told the meeting of the Community and Family Care Policy: “I would like to provide an assurance to members and the wider community that the lessons to be learned from Declan’s death have been learned.”