SIR – So agreement has been reached to settle a six-figure sum on Sharon Shoesmith in respect of the High Court judgement that she had been wrongly dismissed by Haringey Council under the direction of the then-Secretary of State Ed Balls.
Ed Balls is now quoted as saying: “The idea that she has received a pay-off after what happened to Peter Connelly leaves a bad taste in the mouth”.
This is a disgraceful attempt to conflate two separate issues.
The six-figure settlement arises out of the actions of Ed Balls in dismissing Ms Shoesmith, in a way that the High Court judgement described as “intrinsically unfair and unlawful”.
The judgement went on to say: “She was scapegoated by Mr Balls and Haringey Council” and was made “a public sacrifice to deflect press and public obloquy”.
The judgement also commented that Sharon Shoesmith had been highly respected within Haringey and with her staff had been working in very difficult circumstances.
Mr Balls’s actions in 2008 were clearly unlawful. His comments were despicable.
John Cole, Oakroyd Terrace, Baildon
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