Apology call over Liam claim made by Swinney

JOHN Swinney yesterday came under pressure to apologise after he was proved wrong for claiming it was ‘atrocious’ to link the Named Person policy to the death of Liam Fee.

The Deputy First Minister last year claimed the two-year-old’s case ‘had nothing to do with Named Person’.

But a damning report into Liam’s murder singled out the SNP policy as having ‘contributed to confusion’ about who was responsible for providing support for him.

Liam, pictured, was murdered at his home near Glenrothes, Fife, on March 22, 2014 by his mother Rachel Trelfa and her partner Nyomi Fee.

The pair, who were jailed for life last year, had subjected him to years of abuse and neglect.

He died of heart injuries similar to those found on car crash victims.

A Significant Case Review has now found that vital opportunities to save the youngster’s life were missed by social workers and NHS staff. It also confirmed Liam was the subject of an early Named Person scheme and stated this may have ‘contributed to confusion’ as to who was co-ordinating care for him.

Mr Swinney criticised campaigners for claiming the policy was linked to the youngster. He said: ‘I think it’s atrocious to try to establish any link between named person proposition and the Liam Fee case. It has absolutely nothing to do with named person.’

The Scottish Conservatives have now called on Mr Swinney to apologise. A spokesman said: ‘Clearly John Swinney went too far in criticising those drawing links between Named Person flaws and cases such as this.

‘Instead of attacking critics, the SNP should listen when people raise legitimate questions. He should consider apologising over these remarks.’

The report into Liam’s death was published the same day as the Scottish Government revealed a major U-turn on its Named Person policy.

Parents can now effectively opt out, while changes were made to the information sharing part of the legislation ruled unlawful by the Supreme Court last year.