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Liam Fee: Whistleblower had 'gut wrenching' feeling | Liam Fee: Whistleblower had 'gut wrenching' feeling |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A woman who lived near the family of murdered toddler Liam Fee has told how she contacted social services after getting a "gut wrenching" feeling something was wrong with the boy. | A woman who lived near the family of murdered toddler Liam Fee has told how she contacted social services after getting a "gut wrenching" feeling something was wrong with the boy. |
Patricia Smith said she felt the call had served little purpose. | Patricia Smith said she felt the call had served little purpose. |
On Tuesday Rachel Fee and her partner Nyomi were found guilty of murdering Rachel's two-year-old son Liam in Fife. | On Tuesday Rachel Fee and her partner Nyomi were found guilty of murdering Rachel's two-year-old son Liam in Fife. |
The couple were convicted of assaulting and killing the young child at his home in Thornton in March 2014. | The couple were convicted of assaulting and killing the young child at his home in Thornton in March 2014. |
They had blamed another boy for the murder. | They had blamed another boy for the murder. |
Ms Smith was one of several witnesses who raised concerns about two-year-old Liam before he was murdered. | Ms Smith was one of several witnesses who raised concerns about two-year-old Liam before he was murdered. |
Speaking to Good Morning Scotland she described how she contacted social services after getting a "gut wrenching" feeling that something was wrong. | Speaking to Good Morning Scotland she described how she contacted social services after getting a "gut wrenching" feeling that something was wrong. |
She described how she had never seen anything like it before and knew she had to raise her concerns. | She described how she had never seen anything like it before and knew she had to raise her concerns. |
Ms Smith explained said: "I had passed them in the street. I noticed he [Liam] was lying flat in the buggy. He had a blanket over his head and the mother told me he wasn't sleeping, he was actually awake. | |
"At that point that's when alarm bells started ringing. She then went on to state he had autism, again this was something that couldn't be right because I knew the little boy. | |
"It was then that I got this gut-wrenching feeling and decided to speak to my line manager [at work] and call child protection services." | |
'Just another call' | |
She went on to say that she thought she had known what a gut wrenching feeling felt like "until that day". | |
Ms Smith added: "That's the only way I can explain how bad I felt at the time." | |
However, after contacting social services she felt she should not have bothered as they had suggested everyone had different parenting skills. | However, after contacting social services she felt she should not have bothered as they had suggested everyone had different parenting skills. |
Mrs Smith said: "They told me that they would send a health visitor round, but the feeling I got after that call was that I shouldn't have bothered. | Mrs Smith said: "They told me that they would send a health visitor round, but the feeling I got after that call was that I shouldn't have bothered. |
"I personally felt like they were maybe getting quite a few calls about them and this one was just another one on the list that was creating them more work. | "I personally felt like they were maybe getting quite a few calls about them and this one was just another one on the list that was creating them more work. |
"I know obviously that social workers do a great job, but I came away from that call thinking that I should've bothered." | "I know obviously that social workers do a great job, but I came away from that call thinking that I should've bothered." |
A significant case review has begun. | A significant case review has begun. |