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| Sacked Baby P boss seeks review | Sacked Baby P boss seeks review |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The former director of children's services in Haringey Council is seeking a judicial review of her dismissal in the wake of the Baby P case. | The former director of children's services in Haringey Council is seeking a judicial review of her dismissal in the wake of the Baby P case. |
| Sharon Shoesmith was removed from her post on the instruction of Ed Balls, the children's secretary, following severe criticism of her department. | Sharon Shoesmith was removed from her post on the instruction of Ed Balls, the children's secretary, following severe criticism of her department. |
| Ms Shoesmith argues the London council, Ofsted and the secretary of state treated her unfairly and illegally. | Ms Shoesmith argues the London council, Ofsted and the secretary of state treated her unfairly and illegally. |
| Peter Connolly suffered over 50 injuries by the time of his death. | Peter Connolly suffered over 50 injuries by the time of his death. |
| The 17-month-old - initially known as Baby P - died in Haringey, north London, in August 2007 while under the care of mother Tracey Connolly, 28, her partner Steven Barker, 33, and Barker's brother Jason Owen, 37. | The 17-month-old - initially known as Baby P - died in Haringey, north London, in August 2007 while under the care of mother Tracey Connolly, 28, her partner Steven Barker, 33, and Barker's brother Jason Owen, 37. |
| WHO IS SHARON SHOESMITH? Sharon Shoesmith's name is synonymous with the case of Baby Peter. | |
| His death, after months of abuse, caused a national outcry because he was on Haringey Council's at-risk register. | |
| The former head of children's services in the borough was removed on the orders of Schools Secretary Ed Balls. | |
| The 56-year-old claims she has been vilified by the press and made a scapegoat. | |
| More than one million people signed the Sun newspaper's petition calling for heads to roll. She says the media pressure played a role in her dismissal. | |
| Ms Shoesmith has also been criticised for defending her department's actions and not apologising after the trial, but she claims she did say sorry. | |
| However she has had her supporters - more than 60 head teachers wrote a letter calling her "an outstanding public servant". | |
| In an BBC interview, she said the way ministers handled the Baby Peter affair was "breathtakingly reckless". She also said she had contemplated suicide. | |
| Connolly, Barker and Owen received minimum prison terms of five, 12 and three years respectively for causing or allowing Peter's death. All three have appealed against their sentences. | Connolly, Barker and Owen received minimum prison terms of five, 12 and three years respectively for causing or allowing Peter's death. All three have appealed against their sentences. |
| As the shocking details of Baby Peter's short life were made public along with the missed opportunities to save him, Sharon Shoesmith became a target for public anger. | As the shocking details of Baby Peter's short life were made public along with the missed opportunities to save him, Sharon Shoesmith became a target for public anger. |
| The toddler had been on Haringey's child protection register at the time of his death. | The toddler had been on Haringey's child protection register at the time of his death. |
| The Serious Case Review Ms Shoesmith chaired into the case found lessons needed to be learned but that none of her staff deserved to lose their jobs. | |
| But over a million people who had signed a petition in a national newspaper disagreed, calling for her and members of her team to be sacked. | But over a million people who had signed a petition in a national newspaper disagreed, calling for her and members of her team to be sacked. |
| In December 2008, following a damning report into Shoesmith's department by Ofsted inspectors, Children's Secretary Ed Balls removed her from her post. | In December 2008, following a damning report into Shoesmith's department by Ofsted inspectors, Children's Secretary Ed Balls removed her from her post. |
| Ms Shoesmith's legal team is expected to argue that the Ofsted report was unlawful and was submitted to Mr Balls without giving her an opportunity to reply. | |
| A week later she was dismissed by a panel of Haringey councillors without compensation. | A week later she was dismissed by a panel of Haringey councillors without compensation. |
| Ms Shoesmith contends that Mr Balls was influenced by the media campaign waged against her and that she was not given an opportunity to respond to or correct the criticisms which led to her dismissal. | Ms Shoesmith contends that Mr Balls was influenced by the media campaign waged against her and that she was not given an opportunity to respond to or correct the criticisms which led to her dismissal. |
| She will also say his actions had been beyond the secretary of states' powers as outlined by in the Education Act 1996. | |
| The court is also expected to be told Haringey Council acted unlawfully and never gave Ms Shoesmith a right to reply before she was dismissed. | |
| The hearing is expected to last three days. | The hearing is expected to last three days. |