The heartbreaking death of two-year-old Ethan Ives-Griffiths came under scrutiny at Mold Crown Court this week, as jurors heard distressing details of the final hours before the toddler’s collapse. According to police interviews, Ethan’s mother, Shannon Ives, told officers she witnessed her father, Michael Ives, shaking the child in the family’s back garden not long before Ethan suffered the catastrophic head injury that would claim his life.
Shannon Ives, 28, recounted to police how the incident unfolded on the evening of 14 August 2021, at the Deeside home of her parents, Kerry and Michael Ives. She stated that after Ethan began crying, Michael seized him by the arms and shook him, telling the boy harshly to be quiet. Her testimony painted a troubling picture of fear and control within the household. Shannon explained that her own anxiety meant she did not seek immediate medical help, as she remained petrified of her father and worried about facing blame herself.
The trial has brought to light that young Ethan was severely underweight and bore numerous bruises at the time of his death. Medical evidence suggests his fatal head injury was inflicted deliberately, possibly involving forceful shaking. Yet, witness statements indicate that the family opted to delay calling an ambulance, with Shannon claiming her parents suggested waiting 10 minutes to see if Ethan would revive, rather than seeking urgent medical assistance.
Shannon acknowledged to police interrogators that she knew she should have intervened or tried to get help for her son. However, she insisted the atmosphere within her parents’ house was one of intimidation, alleging she was subjected to constant control and threats. She admitted cancelling health visitor appointments and misleading social workers to conceal Ethan’s injuries, saying her parents would always be present during any visits from professionals.
Disturbingly, further allegations emerged regarding disciplinary methods said to be used against Ethan. According to Shannon’s account, Michael Ives would at times force the toddler to stand in a corner with his hands on his head for extensive periods, claiming these punishments could last for up to two hours. She described how if the boy moved, he would be slapped. Shannon also told police that her mother, Kerry Ives, participated in these acts—incidents which she described as physical abuse.
When pressed by detectives about whether such treatment amounted to torture, Shannon replied in agreement, underlining the sustained distress Ethan seemingly endured. Yet, she conceded she had never alerted authorities due to her enduring fear of her father’s reprisals. Her inability to speak up, she said, was worsened by feeling surveilled and silenced within her own family.
In court, Michael and Kerry Ives, residents of Kingsley Road, Garden City, have both denied charges of murder, as well as the alternate charge of causing or allowing the death of a child, and cruelty to a person under 16. Their daughter Shannon, of Nant Garmon, Mold, faces similar allegations. All three have pleaded not guilty as the case continues its detailed exploration of the events that led to Ethan’s tragic death.
Notably, each defendant has attempted to shift blame to one another, with Michael and Kerry Ives disputing Shannon’s version of events. The prosecution’s evidence and the testimony from Ethan’s relatives have illustrated the dysfunctional dynamics within the household, with significant allegations pointing to a history of abuse and secrecy.
The trial has sparked wider discussions around the importance of vigilance from health and social care professionals in identifying at-risk children, and the devastating consequences that can arise when signs of abuse are missed or concealed within families.
Proceedings at Mold Crown Court are set to continue, as the jury weighs the distressing evidence and attempts to ascertain responsibility for the death of a young child whose life was cut tragically short. The outcome is being closely watched, not only by those directly affected, but also by advocates for child welfare across Wales and beyond.