Tracey Connelly, known as the mother of Baby P, is back in the spotlight as she makes her seventh attempt to gain parole. A psychologist at her hearing hinted she could be “deceiving” the parole panel. Back in 2009, Connelly was imprisoned for the death of her 17-month-old son, Peter, following a tragic series of neglect and abuse. Connelly’s current review is historic, being the first one open to the public, livestreamed from prison. This comes after her recall to prison last year for breaching licence conditions by hiding an online relationship.
During the hearing, Connelly owned up to her past, admitting she was a “bad mother” who ignored the clear signs of her son’s abuse. While she stated she wouldn’t be a threat to children today, there’s scepticism about her sincerity. A panel member posed the burning question: “Could she be deceiving us now?” The psychologist responded with a cautious “yes,” acknowledging the difficulty in gauging someone’s honesty.
Despite Connelly claiming to have built trust with authorities, doubts linger. Her community offender managers are tackling her potential deceit head-on, embracing a strong approach to manage her. Connelly doesn’t qualify for a lie detector test, but officials are keenly aware of her history of misleading others.
As the panel deliberates whether to release Connelly or transfer her to open prison conditions, further evidence will be considered privately. Stay tuned for the decision on whether she has indeed changed or if she’s putting on a façade.