Tracey Connelly, the mother of 17-month-old Peter Connelly — known publicly as “Baby P” — has made a fresh bid for release as part of her current parole review.
Connelly, now aged 44, was sentenced in 2009 after pleading guilty to causing or allowing the death of Peter at their home in Tottenham, north London. The toddler suffered more than 50 injuries before his death in August 2007.
During the hearing, she described herself as having been “a bad mother” and admitted she “didn’t protect” her children. She accepted that her “selfishness” played a role in the tragic outcome, saying: “deep down I knew … but I was so busy trying to prove all the professionals wrong that I ignored my gut”.
Connelly’s history includes being released on licence in 2013, then being recalled to prison in 2015 and again most recently after breaches of her licence conditions. One key concern raised at the hearing was her development of intimate relationships without supervision or disclosure while on licence.
Her application is now with a parole panel that must decide whether it is safe to release her, and under what conditions. The panel has been told that if she were to take responsibility fully, avoid unreported relationships and maintain current stability, she might meet the criteria for release. But they were also told that if she prioritises personal relationships or fails to adequately address risk factors, she could present a danger — especially if children were involved.
Victim impact statements from Peter’s family have been submitted in confidence. The hearing chair stated that the family’s ongoing suffering is “life-long” and their concerns about her potential release remain serious.
The review continues, and the panel’s decision will hinge on how convincingly Connelly demonstrates changed behaviour, full transparency in her relationships and a clear understanding of prior risk factors.
