Liam Johnson Death, Panel of Review Report 1979

A 3 year old child Liam Johnson was found dead on 25 Dec 1987 [1]. On 13th June 1989 his father was convicted of his manslaughter [1].

Islington Borough Council have released a redacted copy of the Liam Johnson Review Report, of the Panel of Enquiry in response to a Freedom of Information Request [2] . The Report Download [1]. The Report was published 24 November 1989

The report was authored by Elizabeth Lawson QC, Leo Goodman and Suzanne Mowat. The report is extremely heavily redacted with many whole sections of the report being missing. It appears that it is also badly redacted with much black pen leaking through the page  onto the one beneath, making that hard to read.

The Council states “Please note that the council has redacted personal and sensitive information from this report. The  council believes that this information could potentially identify individuals and to release this would be unfair and therefore a breach of the first Data Protection Principle. This information is exempt from disclosure under section 40(2) (third party personal information) of the Freedom of Information Act  2000. Section 40(2) is an absolute exemption and does not require the public interest test to be carried out. “

It is thought that some of the redaction could be challenged.

Other Child protection Inquiries and Serious Case Reviews

Please note that victims of abuse may be triggered by reading this information. The Sanctuary for the Abused [A] has advice on how to prevent triggers.  National Association for People Abused in Childhood [B] has a freephone helpline and has links to local support groups. Other useful sites are One in Four [C] and Havoca [D]. Useful post on triggers [E] from SurvivorsJustice [F] blog.

 Links and Hyperlinks 

[1] Liam Johnson Inquiry Report https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/194937/response/498526/attach/3/LJ%20redacted%20Redacted1.pdf

[2] Freedom of Information Request https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/death_of_liam_johnson_and_judici

[3] Other Child Protection Inquiries and Serious Case Reviews https://cathyfox.wordpress.com/2014/04/02/child-protection-inquiries-and-serious-case-reviews/

[A] Sanctuary for the Abused http://abusesanctuary.blogspot.co.uk/2006/07/for-survivors-coping-with-triggers-if.html

[B] NAPAC http://www.napac.org.uk/

[C] One in Four http://www.oneinfour.org.uk/

[D] Havoca http://www.havoca.org/HAVOCA_home.htm

[E] SurvivorsJustice Triggers post http://survivorsjustice.com/2014/02/26/triggers-what-are-they-and-how-do-we-work-through-them/

[F] SurvivorsJustice Blog http://survivorsjustice.com/

This is all written in good faith but if there is anything that needs to be corrected please email cathyfox@bigfoot.com.

The truth will out, the truth will shout, the truth will set us free. cathy fox