Scots’ child protection review

A review of child protection in Scotland is to be announced this
week following an independent inquiry into the murder of
three-year-old Kennedy McFarlane in Dumfries and Galloway (News,
page 4, 8 March).

There had been many referrals to health services and concerns
had been raised with social work staff several times before the
girl’s death last May. Thomas Duncan, who lived with the child’s
mother, admitted murder and was sentenced to life imprisonment in
December.

Dumfries and Galloway Council child protection committee
commissioned an independent review headed by Dr Helen Hammond, a
West Lothian consult paediatrician. Hammond called for the national
review of child protection procedures involving all the key
agencies to ensure that they were working together effectively.