Social services to probe baby death

Carla-Nicole was 13 months old when she died

A social services inquiry is to be held into the handling of the case of a 13-month-old baby who was killed by her mother and her partner.

Carla-Nicole Bone died in May this year after suffering a catalogue of abuse at the hands of Sandy McClure who was convicted of her murder on Friday.

Nicole's mother, 20-year-old Andrea Bone, was found guilty of culpable homicide at the High Court in Stonehaven after facing the unusual charge of murder by failing to protect her daughter.

After the verdicts were delivered on Friday social workers said they had found "no evidence" McClure posed a serious risk to his partner's child after investigating complaints she was being neglected.

Liz Berry alerted social services to Nicole's plight

Aberdeen City Council said it had responded to two allegations of neglect, one just a month before Nicole Bone died, but concluded there was no need for "formal protection procedures".

However, a spokesman for the council and Grampian Primary Care NHS Trust said officials would co-operate with any Fatal Accident Inquiry (FAI) or child protection inquiry into the circumstances of the case.

The spokesman added: "In the absence of an FAI, the North East of Scotland Child Protection Committee will mount its own investigation in discussion with the Scottish Executive, which is likely to be led by an external expert in child protection.

"In the meantime, the agencies are carrying out their own internal reviews of records and case notes."

The inquiry pledge came after Liz Berry, Nicole's grandmother, said the youngster had been let down by social workers.

Andrea Bone faced an unusual charge

She said: "I phoned social services because I was worried because of his mannerisms, the way Sandy McClure was, and they did nothing about it.

"I phoned six, seven times and they did nothing. I blame them."

The council said it had received two allegations of neglect while the family was living in a caravan at Bridge of Don, near Aberdeen.

It said McClure "co-operated in visits from the services and there was no evidence he would be a serious risk to Carla-Nicole's welfare".

The first claim was made anonymously in November last year, while the second came from the girl's grandmother on 4 April, six weeks before Carla-Nicole was killed.

Social workers visited and decided that although the couple needed "advice and help" in caring for the child, the overall standard of care was "adequate".

Sandy McClure was convicted of murder

A council spokesman said: "There is no record that any information was received at any time by the relevant agencies that Carla-Nicole was subject to physical abuse from those caring for her.

"No injuries were detected at times of examination when Carla-Nicole was undressed."

The council said Carla-Nicole was not one of the 289 children on the child protection register in Aberdeenshire, but she had regular contact with health visitors and social workers during her life.