Baby P's Mother Tracey Connelly Set to be Released from Prison after Government Challenge Rejected

Baby P's mother Tracey Connelly is set to be released from prison after the Parole Board rejected a government challenge against its ruling.The 40-year-old mother was jailed in 2009 for the death of her 17-month-old son Peter, who suffered more than 50 injuries, including fractured ribs and a broken back. He had suffered from months of abuse. Baby P received 60 visits from social workers, police and health professionals over a period of eight months.

Connelly was convicted at the Old Bailey in 2009 of causing or allowing the death of her 17-month-old son at their home in Tottenham, north London, on 3 August 2007.Connelly was released on licence in 2013 but recalled to prison in 2015 for breaching her parole conditions. The Parole Board had also considered her case in 2015, 2017 and 2019 but refused to release her or move her to an open prison. In March this year, the Parole Board, having rejected three previous bids, decided she was suitable for release.Last month, Justice Secretary Dominic Raab asked the board, which is independent of the government, to re-examine the decision under the so-called reconsideration mechanism.

On Thursday, the Parole Board announced that the application had been rejected.In a statement, the Parole Board said: "Following the reconsideration application from the secretary of state, a judge has ruled that the decision made by independent Parole Board members to release was not irrational, as stated in the reconsideration application, and the original decision is upheld."Following the board's decision to release Connelly from prison, Raab had described Connelly's actions as "pure evil". Raab continued:

"The decision to release her demonstrates why the Parole Board needs a fundamental overhaul – including a ministerial check for the most serious offenders – so that it serves and protects the public."Once released, Connelly will be subject to restrictions on her movements, activities and who she contacts, and faces 20 extra licence conditions. These conditions include living at a specified address, wearing an electronic tag, adhering to a curfew and having to disclose her relationships.Her use of the internet and a phone will be monitored, and she has been told she cannot go to certain places to "avoid contact with victims and to protect children".