Baby P tribute blocked
Thursday, 27 November 2008
A member of a local mother and toddler group Stephanie Falconer who along with other members would like to release balloons at Coleraine Town Hall on Wednesday in memory of Baby P, as part of a nationwide event.
A MOTHER'S plans to commemorate the life of Baby P have been thwarted after officials ruled out an event in Coleraine's Diamond on health and safety grounds.
Stephanie Falconer said she was profoundly affected by news of the 17-month-old boy's death.
Baby P was discovered in a blood-stained cot in August 2007 after months of abuse, despite 60 visits from authorities over eight months.
The toddler's mother, her boyfriend and their lodger will be sentenced at the Old Bailey on 15 December for causing or allowing his death.
After gathering support from fellow mothers in a local toddler group, Stephanie planned to release balloons on December 3 and pause for a moment's silence outside the Town Hall.
After first contacting police who cleared the event, she rang the council but was denied permission.
She said officials told her Coleraine Borough Council could not allow it because of the environmental implications of a balloon release. She was also told the council required public liability insurance before authorising a public gathering.
“I just can't believe they have been so picky," she told the Chronicle.
“We just wanted to do our bit. We know we can't help him now but at least we could have paid our respects."
A Council spokesperson has since told the Chronicle applications for events in the Diamond should be submitted the Department of Regional Development.
“Any application of this nature is to be put forward to DRD, as this area is not owned or maintained by Coleraine Borough Council to give permission for this event," added the spokesperson.
Stephanie planned to co-ordinate the event with hundreds of others taking place across the country at 12.10pm - the exact time an ambulance was called for Baby P. Proceeds of a collection were to be donated to children's charity, NSPCC.
She continued: "I have been following the case very closely - read every newspaper story and have seen every news report.
“Perhaps I shouldn't have been because I've shed a lot of tears. I just can't fathom how anyone could do anything like that to a little boy. Everytime I look at my own son I think about that poor wee lad. He is the same age and looks exactly like him.
“There has been such a huge response, we just wanted to play some small part in remembering him and pay our respects I got in touch with everyone from my baby group and they all the mothers felt they wanted to be involved because we they feel so powerless."
Stephanie has not been deterred and is now searching for an alternative venue.
“We are just a group of parents who want to pay their respects. It should be a lovely spectacle," she added.
Since details of Baby P's ordeal emerged during his parent's trial the government has ordered an urgent inquiry into Haringey Council's child welfare services.
Haringey Council was previously severely criticised after the murder of eight-year-old Victoria Climbie in 2000.
