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| Baby P boss Sharon Shoesmith secures £680,000 payout | Baby P boss Sharon Shoesmith secures £680,000 payout |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The former head of Haringey children's services Sharon Shoesmith has been awarded £679,452 following her unfair dismissal claim. | The former head of Haringey children's services Sharon Shoesmith has been awarded £679,452 following her unfair dismissal claim. |
| Ms Shoesmith was sacked after a damning report into the 2007 death of Peter Connelly, known as Baby P, who was subjected to months of abuse. | Ms Shoesmith was sacked after a damning report into the 2007 death of Peter Connelly, known as Baby P, who was subjected to months of abuse. |
| The payments, previously established to be a six-figure sum, were confirmed in the London council's accounts. | |
| But Ms Shoesmith told the BBC: "This is not a figure I recognise." | But Ms Shoesmith told the BBC: "This is not a figure I recognise." |
| She added: "I have made a confidential agreement with Haringey that prevents me giving the actual figures." | She added: "I have made a confidential agreement with Haringey that prevents me giving the actual figures." |
| However, the council's draft accounts for 2013-2014 show Ms Shoesmith was awarded £377,266 for salary, fees and allowance, £217,266 in compensation for loss of office, and £84,819 for employer pension contributions. | However, the council's draft accounts for 2013-2014 show Ms Shoesmith was awarded £377,266 for salary, fees and allowance, £217,266 in compensation for loss of office, and £84,819 for employer pension contributions. |
| Peter Connelly had more than 50 injuries, despite being on the at-risk register and receiving 60 visits from social workers, police and health professionals over eight months. | Peter Connelly had more than 50 injuries, despite being on the at-risk register and receiving 60 visits from social workers, police and health professionals over eight months. |
| Baby Peter's mother, Tracey Connelly, her boyfriend, Steven Barker, and his brother, Jason Owen, were jailed in May 2009 for causing or allowing the child's death. | Baby Peter's mother, Tracey Connelly, her boyfriend, Steven Barker, and his brother, Jason Owen, were jailed in May 2009 for causing or allowing the child's death. |
| Ms Shoesmith was sacked in December 2008 by the then children's secretary Ed Balls. | Ms Shoesmith was sacked in December 2008 by the then children's secretary Ed Balls. |
| She claimed she had been unfairly dismissed and the Court of Appeal ruled in her favour in 2011, saying she had been "unfairly scapegoated". | She claimed she had been unfairly dismissed and the Court of Appeal ruled in her favour in 2011, saying she had been "unfairly scapegoated". |
| Haringey Council previously revealed it had spent £196,000 fighting Ms Shoesmith's case for unfair dismissal. | Haringey Council previously revealed it had spent £196,000 fighting Ms Shoesmith's case for unfair dismissal. |
| The compensation package is more than the minimum suggested by senior judge Lord Neuberger in the 2011 ruling. | The compensation package is more than the minimum suggested by senior judge Lord Neuberger in the 2011 ruling. |
| He gave the opinion Ms Shoesmith was entitled to a minimum of three months' salary plus pensions contributions, which would have amounted to about £33,000. | He gave the opinion Ms Shoesmith was entitled to a minimum of three months' salary plus pensions contributions, which would have amounted to about £33,000. |
| However, last year a government source told BBC Newsnight the cost to Haringey Council could be as high as £600,000. | However, last year a government source told BBC Newsnight the cost to Haringey Council could be as high as £600,000. |
| In a statement, the local authority confirmed it had reached a settlement with Ms Shoesmith. | In a statement, the local authority confirmed it had reached a settlement with Ms Shoesmith. |
| It said: "The terms of the settlement are confidential. We are unable to comment further on this matter." | It said: "The terms of the settlement are confidential. We are unable to comment further on this matter." |
| Kerry Underwood, an employment lawyer, said confidential settlements like Ms Shoesmith's "should not be allowed" when they involve public money. | Kerry Underwood, an employment lawyer, said confidential settlements like Ms Shoesmith's "should not be allowed" when they involve public money. |
| Such payouts should also be subject to extra scrutiny, he added. | Such payouts should also be subject to extra scrutiny, he added. |
| "When local authorities are cutting back hard then it should go back to tribunal or court to be approved," Mr Underwood said. | "When local authorities are cutting back hard then it should go back to tribunal or court to be approved," Mr Underwood said. |
| "That would not cost a lot of money, it would be a relatively short hearing." | "That would not cost a lot of money, it would be a relatively short hearing." |