A daily summary of social care stories from the main newspapers

By David Callaghan and Reg McKay.

‘Grudge’ assault on charity founder

Marjorie Wallace, the founder of schizophrenia charity SANE, has
been brutally attacked in a suspected grudge attack. Her attacker
laughed maniacally throughout the attack in a Tesco car park.

Wallace was left virtually unconscious after being punched and
rammed with a car during the attack in Bicester on Sunday.

Source:- The Times Thursday 6 September page 5

‘I wouldn’t treat a dog the way that she treated
Lauren’

Social workers were alerted about the suffering of a
six-year-old girl, who was being beaten by her stepmother, a few
weeks before she died, a court has been told.

Neighbours made anonymous calls to social services after
noticing that Lauren Wright had bruises on her face. Lauren died
when her digestive system collapsed after a blow to the
stomach.

Lauren’s stepmother Tracey Wright and her natural father Craig
Wright, of Welney in Norfolk, both deny manslaughter and wilful
neglect. The trial at Norwich crown court continues.

Source:- Daily Mail Thursday 6 September page 7

Progress? There is none

A survey by SANE has found that many psychiatrists are unhappy
with the underfunding in mental health services. But says David
Charter low morale may be a greater problem.

Source: Times 2 Thursday 6 September page 4-5

Child killer to sue writer over letters

A man jailed for life for abducting, sexually assaulting and
killing a three-year-old girl has been granted legal aid to sue a
writer who helped with his conviction.

Shaun Anthony Armstrong was sentenced in 1995 after taking Rosie
Palmer from the Headland estate in Hartlepool and murdering her
before putting her in a bin liner. She was found in his flat.

Armstrong is now suing Bernard Mahoney, who posed as a woman to
extract a confession in letters from Armstrong. He is arguing that
his privacy was breached when the letters were handed to the
police.

Source:- The Guardian Thursday 6 September page 6

Violent men have ‘Norman Bates’ effect

Psychologists have found that men who beat up their wives often
compare them unfavourably with their mothers.

Professor Joan Orme of Glasgow University said a survey of 30
men showed that they make a comparison that ordinary women cannot
match up to.

Source:- Daily Telegraph Thursday 6 September page
12

Scottish newspapers

Father found guilty of baby sons’
murder

A man who killed his two baby sons by smothering them with their
bibs was found guilty of murder at Glasgow high court
yesterday.

Darren Jenkinson murdered two-month-old Aaron in October 1995
and three-week-old Jacob in September 1999. Jenkinson had claimed
culpable homicide saying he had been sexually abused by his father
and feared he would abuse his own sons. The judge, Lord McEwan,
called for medical reports and ordered Jenkinson to appear before
him for sentencing on 26 September.

Jenkinson’s lawyer, Gary McAteer, said an appeal would be
considered.

Source:- The Herald Thursday 6 September page 1

Nightmare journey for charity president

A severely disabled charity president is taking legal advice
against an airline which failed to provide her with her booked
disability seat and “manhandled” her in front of hundreds of
passengers.

Lin Berwick, president of The Lin Berwick Trust, which organises
holidays for disabled people and their families, claims the low
cost airline Go subjected her to a 12-hour delay at Edinburgh
airport, “manhandled” her on and off three different aircraft and
“humiliated” her in front of hundreds of passengers as she was
wedged into unsuitable seating.

Go fully refunded her the cost of the flight, paid
Berwick’s taxi home and sent her flowers. A spokesperson for
Go apologised for Berwick’s “bad experience”.

Source:- The Herald Thursday 6 September page 11

McLeish promises free personal care by Spring
2002

Henry McLeish, first minister, told the Scottish parliament
yesterday that free personal care will be implemented by Spring
2002.

His announcement came as the most contentious of the Scottish
parliament’s legislative programme for the new term. As well as the
Community Care and Health Bill, also announced were the Protection
of Children Bill creating a list of those people considered
unsuitable to work with children, and the Mental Health Bill
strengthening the rights of patients and their families.

Source:- The Scotsman Thursday 6 September page 9