Tracey Connelly was jailed for at least five years in 2009 for causing or allowing the death of her son Peter, who died in 2007 after being tortured by her lover Steven Barker, who was locked up for a minimum of 12 years. When she was jailed, it was claimed Peter was left in his pushchair with chocolate spread over his face to cover up bruises.
At the parole hearing, Connelly admitted she refused to accept Barker was abusing Peter before his death and that her selfishness led to the tragedy. She told prison experts she was blinded by love and wanted a Prince Charming. This marked her first public detailing of the events, as she had never publicly given details about her son's death before the Parole Board hearing.
I was a bad mother. I failed to protect them. I put my needs first. I took all my anger out at the world on my children. I didn't give them what they needed and they deserved better than me.
The parole hearing process involves evidence being presented in public and private over two days, with details of Connelly's offending read to the panel. The case was adjourned from last year, and the Parole Board will reconvene next month to assess if she still poses a risk. The hearing will hear evidence in public and private over two days, and the Parole Board will reconvene a hearing next month to determine if Tracey Connelly still poses a risk to the public.
Connelly's risk assessment includes her admission that she still posed a risk to children in her care, and she was said to have felt anger towards her children, believing they were interfering in her relationship with her partner. Tracey Connelly launched a fresh effort to be released in October last year, and she was making a fresh bid for freedom after twice being recalled to prison for breaching her licence.
There was a lot more that I probably could have done to protect my children. If I had told the professionals that this man was living with me and explained that we were more than he was just visiting, there are 101 things I could have done.
The implications of this parole decision are significant, with the outcome unknown—whether Connelly will be released or kept in prison, and what specific conditions or restrictions might be imposed if she is freed.
I could have done more. I was in my own bubble where I wanted my Prince Charming and unfortunately my children paid for that.
I was selfish. I wanted my happy ever after.