Baby P's Mother Tracey Connelly Will Be Released After Parole Board Rejects Government Challenge

Tracey Connelly, the mother of Baby P, will be released from prison after the Parole Board rejected a Government challenge against its ruling.

The 40-year-old was jailed back in 2009 for a minimum term of five years after she pleaded guilty to causing or allowing the death of her seventeen-month-old son Peter, known publicly as Baby P.

Her son died at their home in Tottenham, north London, in August 2007, having suffered more than 50 injuries at the hands of Connelly's partner, Steven Barker, and his brother, Jason Owen.

Now, Connelly could be released from prison within a matter of weeks after the Parole Board rejected a challenge from the government.

On Thursday (5 May) the Parole Board announced that the government's challenge had been rejected and the original decision upheld.

A spokesperson said in a statement: “Following the reconsideration application from the Secretary of State, a judge has ruled that the decision made by independent Parole Board members to release was not irrational, as stated in the reconsideration application, and the original decision is upheld.”

Justice Secretary Dominic Raab has condemned the decision and claimed that it was proof the Parole Board needed a 'fundamental overhaul'.

Describing Connelly’s actions as 'pure evil', he added: "The decision to release her demonstrates why the parole board needs a fundamental overhaul – including a ministerial check for the most serious offenders – so that it serves and protects the public."

Connelly was released on licence in 2013 but recalled to prison in 2015 for breaching her parole conditions.

Her appeals to be released in 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2020 were all denied by the Parole Board. 

Last month, the Parole Board came to the decision that she was suitable for release, despite having rejected three previous attempts for release.

Dominic Raab previously told the House of Commons he was against the decision.

He said: "In light of the Parole Board’s direction to release Tracey Connelly, I should inform the House that having carefully read the decision, I have decided to apply to the Parole Board to seek their reconsideration."

Raab added: "More generally, the role of the Parole Board in deciding on the appropriateness of release from prison of criminal offenders, including many convicted of very serious violent and sexual offences, is clearly of paramount importance to protecting the public but also maintaining and sustaining public confidence in our justice system.

"It’s the first duty of government to protect the public."