Council Boss 'Won't Quit' Over Khyra Death

9:11am UK, Friday February 26, 2010

Tom Bonnett, Sky News Online

The head of children's services in Birmingham has said he will not quit his job over the death of seven-year-old Khyra Ishaq.

The young girl died at her home in May 2008 after being starved to death by her mother and stepfather.

Angela Gordon admitted manslaughter but was cleared of murder on the grounds of diminished responsibility because she suffered severe depression.

The court heard that Khyra's life could have been saved if the local authority had done more.

Khyra had been withdrawn from school five months before she died.

The court heard that schools attended by Khyra and other children in Gordon's care and control had voiced concerns.

"In particular their concerns relating to their belief that the children were not being fed properly," said judge Mrs Justice King.

"The schools did all they could to bring their concerns to the attention of the relevant authorities.

Angela Gordon and Junail Abuhamza

Angela Gordon & Junaid Abuhamza mother and stepfather of Khyra Ishaq

"These concerns were not taken sufficiently seriously and were not adequately investigated.

"No professional person, whether teacher or social worker, saw the children after February 2008 and no-one tried to see them."

It emerged that Mrs Justice King said last year that "in all probability" Khyra would not have died if there had been "an adequate initial assessment and proper adherence by the educational welfare services to its guidance".

This has lead to calls for Tony Howell, the head of the children's services department, to quit.

But he said there would be "no purpose served" simply by resigning.

Mr Howell said: "We have been working on improving children's social care for over a year now, working closely alongside Government.

"Khyra's death has redoubled our commitment to improve support for vulnerable children and families in this city."

Mr Howell did issue an apology. He said: "I would like to begin by saying how sorry I am that we were unable to save Khyra Ishaq."

Khyra's mother and her stepfather, Junaid Abuhamza, will both be sentenced for manslaughter and cruelty next week.