Employment Law Services

Shoesmith Dismissal Ruled Lawful

Sharon Shoesmith, former head of children’s services at Haringey Council, has lost her latest case against her dismissal.

The result of a judicial review of her dismissal has concluded that the dismissal was lawful. Her lawyers had claimed she had been made a scapegoat after the death of ‘Baby P’ – Peter Connelly.

Ms Shoesmith’s lawyers had claimed a report by Ofsted was redrafted 17 times, although Ofsted suggested there was no pressure from the government in respect of their findings.

Ms Shoesmith felt she should have been given an opportunity to “correct or contradict” the report, but this was not given, and a High Court ruling given by Mr Justice Foskett QC has now ruled that it the subsequent dismissal was lawful.