Baby P’s mother to be released from prison
The Parole Board has rejected a Government challenge against its decision to release her
Last updated 29th May 2022
The mother of Baby P, who died after months of abuse, is set to be released from jail after the Parole Board rejected a Government challenge against its ruling.
Tracey Connelly could be out of jail within weeks after board judges refused the appeal by Justice Secretary Dominic Raab to keep her behind bars.
Tracey Connelly, 40, was jailed at the Old Bailey in 2009 for causing or allowing the death of her 17-month-old son Peter at their home in Tottenham, north London, on August 3 2007.
In response to the decision, Mr Raab said Connelly's actions were "pure evil”.
He added, "The decision to release her demonstrates why the parole board needs a fundamental overhaul, including a ministerial check for the most serious offenders, so that it serves and protects the public."
Connelly was released on licence in 2013, but was recalled to prison in 2015 for breaching her parole conditions.
In March the Parole Board decided that she could be released, having rejected three previous bids.
But last month Mr Raab asked the board, which is independent of government, to re-examine the decision to release her under the so-called reconsideration mechanism.
On Thursday the Parole Board declared that application had been rejected and the original decision upheld.
A spokesman said in a statement: "Following the reconsideration application from the Secretary of State, a judge has ruled that the decision made by independent Parole Board members to release was not irrational, as stated in the reconsideration application, and the original decision is upheld."
What happened to Baby P?
Peter Connelly was a 17-month-old baby who died in London in 2007 after suffering more than fifty injuries over eight months.
During this time he was repeatedly seen by the London Borough of Haringey Children's services.
A court order prevented the publication of Baby P’s identity until May 2009, after his mother Tracey Connelly and her boyfriend Steven Barker were convicted for causing his death.