We once again have been hearing the tragic news of the murder of a child, Arthur Labinjo-Hughes.
How often in the past have we heard the words ‘lessons will be learnt?’ but they never are.
The horrific details of this little boys life of abuse is beyond belief.
How on earth did it happen?
I also listened to someone on the radio saying, ‘why didn’t the grandparents do anything?
We now know that they did, they did raise their concerns but they were not listened to, their concerns disregarded.
I can absolutely say that grandparents do continually raise concerns of neglect and abuse and are told by social services, that they have no rights, so they can’t talk to them.
The agony for grandparents knowing that things are wrong and their grandchildren are suffering some terrible behaviours, and not able to make authorities listen is sadly all too common.
I have spoken to grandparents who have contacted social services, even police welfare checks are made, with the same result, no cause for concern.
And yet, here we are again reading these horrendous headlines of an innocent child living a life of pain, because no -one would listen, no one would talk to other family members, grandparents shunned.
Grandparents may have no rights but this is about human rights, the rights of children to being safe.
The authorities have to start listening, they must listen to grandparents because they are putting the children first, they DO KNOW when something is not right.
If warnings and red flags continue to be ignored, we will sadly continue hearing these distressing stories.
Another precious life has been lost, a life that could have been saved, if only someone had listened, if only someone had kept asking questions.
Rest in peace Arthur.
