General Chat

Hi All,Thanks for your replies. I have to say I dont understand depression to any degree,Ive suffered from very mild depression and seen PND in people but Im not an expert. Lynda,You have seen this first hand, I repect that and your opinion, It must have been awful to have to see and hear some of the things. Im still not convinced about this,I guess as Lynda said until you actually know the story 100% its easy to take the news as the whole truth. I just keep thinking of that poor child,what an horrific way to die. Roxanne x

I agree with Lynda on this one.

i think a lot of mothers have post natal depression i know i did after my 2nd child , but if it all got on top of me ,because he was crying or he would'nt settle i used to put him in his pram and go for a walk, by the time i got home he was much calmer ,if not already asleep so i felt calmer . hurt my child NEVER.

You know I,m really torn with this. Logic says she killed her baby & must be punished accordingly, BUTTTT having suffered with mild PND after daughter was born and really wished I hadnt had her cos she cried ALL the time,!!! I.m still a bit where she was at at the time. She must have been in a dark place to do what she did,and she will have this to live with forever more

I agree with Lynda as well. Severe post natal depression can be a terrible thing. I had pnd but it was not severe. I did shout at my baby a few times because he would not stop crying but never thought of harming him in any way. There is a fine line to be drawn I think. I have to say it was a terrible thing she did and think it needs careful handling. Hopefully she will get the help she needs. At the same time I hope she understands what she did.

Full of confidence knowing that the same system that protected children from Ian Huntley is now protecting children from this woman

Aileen, she was released into the 'Care of the Community' in the same area!

Hi, I have to agree with Lynda here. I used to Minute Child Protection Conferences and fortunately never came across something as horrible as this. However, some cases were bad enough. On first glance I would have locked them up and thrown away the key. What I found though when reading case notes was it's not that cut and dried. Many issues come into the equation and we don't know all the facts in this horrifying case. I haven't heard too much of this on the news as yet but personally I hope that she hasn't been allowed to walk free and that's the end of it. She should be put in a secure unit and treated for whatever illness they say caused her to do this. She should also be sterilised so she cannot bring another child into this world which will undoubtably be removed from her at birth. Aileen xx

I can appreciate what has been said about the mental state of a new mother, but are we to turn and look the other way because of someone's mental condition, pat them on the back and say 'There, there then?' Surely, as a crime has been committed, a worse crime than murdering a stranger, the perpetrator should be punished. Otherwise we are weakening the Rule of Law and saying to people who may be tempted, to go ahead, whereas it must be better for those who are depressed, or suffering from some other mental illness to have the knowledge at the back of their minds that if they do wrong they WILL be punished. Social inclusion cuts both ways.

I agree with you Roxanne, apparently she's not allowed to work with children again, but whats to stop her having another baby? Heres hoping she doesn't. Heather x

Gillie,Thanks!lol ill let you know when I need it;-))

Rox I will lend you my palm brush lol ;o)

Jean,Why would she try to cover her steps? I could understand and believe it more if this had not happened. Surely If your mentally ill this would not happen.

Itchy and Hairy Palms:-)) Not got either yet,watch this space!lol

Is talking to yourself the first sign of madness or is that itchy palms lol ?

If you wanted to kill your baby surely you wouldn't set fire to a settee with the baby on it. A much easier way would be to put a pillow over its face. This was not the act of a rational person. PND in its milder forms is bad enough but to have suffered as this woman did must have been horrendous. She will have to live with what she did all her life. She will never be able to work with children in any way and I would assume if she did bear another child it would be taken from her by social services. Punishment enough I would have thought for someone suffering from a recogized illness. Jean.

Gillie,Dont worry,Im use to talking to myself!!lol;-))

Oh dear I refreshed the page and it had gone! I can't re-add it as I can't remember exactly what I'd said, never mind, but it makes you look like your talking to yourself Rox lol. Gillie.

Oh the British Legal system works wonderfully again..... NOT!! She was competant enough to know she did wrong as she tried to cover up the truth.... this hardly says 'I'm sick and need your help' does it? She MURDERED someone in a cruel and vicious way and should be punished!! Imagine what that poor baby went through in the last minutes of its life!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi Gillie,Not me,Ive just answered you. Thats odd,Why would someone complain about it,its A debate!