**Last week, local MP Marie Tidball raised the 10-year anniversary of the tragic death of Paul and Jack Skyes in Parliament. The children were horrifically killed by their abusive father who set their house on fire. **
Paul and Jack’s mother, Claire Throssell MBE, has campaigned for the past 10 years to address the legal shortfalls that led to the tragedy.
During their separation, Claire took to the family courts to prevent her husband from accessing their sons. She warned that he was a danger to the children, given that he had a history of domestic abuse.
Contact with the children was still permitted, despite his past.
The Children and Families Act 2014 currently allows past abusers to have contact with their children, through the legal principle of ‘presumptive contact’, putting children’s lives in danger.
For the past 10 years, Claire has campaign ferociously with Women’s Aid to change the law, and to put children and their safety first in family courts.
However, presumptive contact is still the presiding legal principle.
On Tuesday, the newly elected Labour MP for Penistone and Stocksbridge, Marie Tidball, asked the Justice Minister in Parliament if she would meet with Claire to discuss reforming the law to properly protect children from domestic abusers in family courts.
The Justice Minister sent her thoughts to Claire’s tireless campaigning, and the whole community for the 10-year anniversary. The Minister stated that the new Government take the need to respond to perpetrators very seriously, and are reviewing the impact of presumptive contact.
The Minister also agreed to meet with Claire Thossell and Marie Tidball to discuss this campaign further.
Speaking after the exchange, the local MP for Penistone and Stocksbridge, Marie Tidball, said:
“Claire Throssell has been a fierce campaigner to stop unsafe child contact with dangerous perpetrators of domestic abuse. It is an honour to campaign alongside her. “Claire’s heartbreaking story demonstrates the devastating impact that flaws and loopholes in domestic abuse law can have. “I wholeheartedly support Claire’s campaign, and we must ensure children come first in family courts. “Domestic abuse services across Penistone and Stocksbridge have an alarmingly low take-up rate, making campaigns like Claire’s all the more important. We must ensure awareness around domestic abuse support and services is raised. “I welcome our meeting with the Minister, and the opportunity work together to prevent further avoidable child deaths and harm at the hand of domestic abusers.”
Claire Throssell MBE, mother to Paul and Jack Skyes, and domestic abuse campaigner, said:
“I’d like to say how grateful I am that Marie and the new government are committed to work in this area. I have campaigned tirelessly for ten years so that children are heard, believed and supported, no-longer invisible to society. “The new government has talked about change and I have renewed hope that the changes that are so desperately needed, within the family courts, will ensure that every child has a brighter, safer future. “Every child deserves a childhood and to live free of fear, free of oppression and allowed to grow.”
If you or anyone you know needs support with domestic abuse, in Penistone they can call 03000 110 110 or email info@idas.org.uk, and in Stocksbridge call 0808 808 2241. The National Domestic Violence Helpline can be contacted on 0808 2000 247 and is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
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