Date set for baby death inquest

Perrin Barlow was nine months old when he died

A date has been set for an inquest into the death of a Plymouth baby, five years after he died of neglect.

The hearing in October follows a legal controversy over the way Perrin Barlow's inquest should be conducted.

Perrin, who was on the child protection register, died aged nine months in a Plymouth flat in July 2002 suffering from malnutrition.

His addict mother Stephanie Horrocks and her partner Mark McAndrew were jailed for child cruelty and neglect.

'Fundamental failure'

Former Plymouth Coroner Nigel Meadows, who is returning to oversee the inquest, has been in dispute with the city council over a confidential report into the case.

Perrin died due to bronchopneumonia, made worse by malnutrition and dehydration, post-mortem tests showed.

A report by the Area Child Protection Committee, which includes police, council and health workers, was only released by Plymouth City Council as a summary.

It said there was a "fundamental failure" to protect Perrin from harm.

Last year Mr Meadows won the right in court for the full report to be available at the inquest.

Mr Meadows lost a High Court battle for a full jury inquest into the death.

The city council has said it would fight to keep the names of people not directly related to the case out of the inquest.

Perrin's mother died soon after she was jailed.