June 13, 2011
A social worker at the centre of the recent Baby P fiasco has been awarded undisclosed libel damages from a major national newspaper. This week, the High Court heard how the Sun newspaper falsely accused Haringey Council's Sylvia Henry of being "grossly negligent" and "thereby to blame for (Baby P’s) appalling abuse and death". The newspaper also said that Ms Henry had shown no remorse for these failings and was "shameless and had ducked responsibility for Peter's death", according to the BBC. Further articles published by the Sun labelled Ms Henry a lazy social worker "who had generally shown an uncaring disregard for the safety of children, even in cases where they obviously required urgent protection". This week, the judge found in favour of Ms Henry, as the Sun admitted to "unreservedly” accepting that there was “no justification for any of the allegations". The Sun has agreed to publish in the newspaper and online its unreserved apology to Ms Henry for the "distress that she has been caused". Libel payouts are not uncommon in the UK, and fellow Brits who feel they have been the victim of libelous comment should seek legal advice now, or they may forever struggle to clear their name.