Sharon Shoesmith: 'Remove from post with immediate effect'

THE case of Baby P in 2008 - who was later revealed to be 17-month-old Peter Connolly - sparked outrage across the UK, particularly at the way that the public services that were supposed to protect him had failed, despite 60 visits and 50 recorded injuries.

After the verdict, Sharon Shoesmith, who was then head of children's services at Haringey Council, held a press conference where she refused to apologise and passed around data which showed that her department was meeting its targets. The following day's newspapers were damning of Ms Shoesmith and her department and there were demands she should be sacked.

The then Children's Secretary, Ed Balls, right, ordered an inspection by Ofsted.

On 1 December 2008, Mr Balls presented the report at a press conference.

He said: "Their (the Ofsted inspectors] report delivers a damning verdict on the current management of safeguarding children in Haringey.

"The inspectors' findings are, I have to say, devastating."

He concluded: "Haringey Council will now remove the current director of children's services (Ms Shoesmith] from her post with immediate effect."