**Bereaved Mother Calls for Urgent Reform in Family Justice System Following Tragic Loss**
A grieving mother from South Yorkshire is spearheading calls for an overhaul of the family justice system, after the harrowing deaths of her two sons at the hands of their father during a court-approved visit. Claire Throssell, whose sons Jack, 12, and Paul, 9, lost their lives in a deliberate house fire started by their father, is urging Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his government to review long-standing practices that she believes prioritise contact with both parents over safeguarding vulnerable children.
This campaign has been reignited in the wake of a recent Women’s Aid report, which reveals that since the deaths of Claire’s children in 2014, an additional 19 children in England and Wales have been killed by a parent or carer with a documented history of domestic abuse. The “Nineteen More Child Homicides” research underscores a distressing pattern: the victims, some as young as three weeks old, were predominantly killed by their fathers, even after concerns had been raised and courts had been made aware of prior abusive behaviour.
The case of Jack and Paul Throssell illustrates the potential failings in the current system. Despite Claire frequently alerting Cafcass (Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service) and social services to her ex-husband’s repeated violence, a judge upheld his right to see their sons. On 22 October 2014, Darren Sykes, her ex-partner, lured the brothers into the attic with promises of a new train set and then set fire to the house, having already cancelled their home insurance. Both Sykes and the children lost their lives as a result.
Claire recounts Jack’s heart-rending final words as he was rescued by firefighters: “My dad did this, and he did it on purpose.” Paul died on the night of the fire, while Jack survived for five agonising days in hospital before succumbing to his injuries. These traumatic events have only strengthened Claire’s determination to ensure that no other family experiences a similar loss.
The figures released by Women’s Aid paint a sobering picture. The charity, which tracks homicides connected to domestic abuse, highlights that 67 children in the past three decades have been killed by someone previously reported for violent behaviour. According to Claire, warnings over her ex-husband’s potential for harm were not just ignored, but downplayed by the courts. She explains, “Even in family court he couldn’t control his temper, but still he was given access. I knew my boys weren’t safe.”
Many campaigners, including Women’s Aid and Labour MP Marie Tidball, are now questioning the so-called “pro-contact” culture in family courts, which they argue too often tilts the balance in favour of parental rights rather than placing the emphasis on a child’s immediate welfare. Claire is currently seeking a meeting with Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood, hoping her family’s story will highlight the urgent need for legislative reform.
Since her sons’ deaths, Claire has channelled her energy into advocacy, launching the Child First petition in 2016. Attracting over 100,000 signatures, the petition prompted a parliamentary debate about parental access in family law. Despite this progress, she feels meaningful change has yet to emerge.
Claire’s story is also set to reach a wider audience through her forthcoming memoir, “For My Boys,” scheduled for publication in October. She hopes the book will keep her sons’ memory alive and contribute to the ongoing fight for child protection in the courts. “I was robbed of the chance to create more memories with my boys,” she says. “I can’t bring them back, but I won’t stop campaigning until the government takes genuine action.”
In response to the recent Women’s Aid report, a government spokesperson acknowledged the gravity of the crime that affected Claire’s family and affirmed that judges currently have the authority to restrict parental involvement where risk is identified. The government has also indicated it is reviewing the presumption of parental involvement and will release updated guidance in due course.
Women’s Aid CEO Farah Nazeer asserted that the family court system continues to disadvantage survivors of domestic abuse, stating, “All too often, perpetrators are shielded by a culture that fails to put child safety first.” Calls for reform are likely to intensify, with many families looking to the new Labour government to decide whether its legacy will be one of continued inaction or meaningful protection for those at risk.
Claire’s message is clear: “No parent should ever have to endure the pain I live with every day. The safety of children must come before all else.”