Social services knew little girl was treated for broken arm weeks before death but did not act

Fife Council social services were notified after Hayley Davidson was taken to hospital with a broken arm just weeks before her death.

The youngster was injured on New Year’s Day in 2016 after an “accident”, in which she fractured a limb.

The High Court in Livingston yesterday heard former soldier McKay accepted blame for the incident but medics had not considered it suspicious.

Advocate depute Jane Farquharson said Fife social services were alerted following Hayley’s hospital treatment but took no action.

She said: “Social services were notified and did not intervene. Fife protocol has now changed as a result of this case.

“Examination of Hayley upon her admission on 14 February 2016 during the time she spent in hospital prior to her death and scrutiny of the various x-rays and scans taken at this time, revealed a number of healing fractures over various parts of her body and of different ages.

“The process of reviewing x-rays has since changed in Fife and all x-rays of infants under 12 months will now be viewed by a paediatric radiologist.”

The council has previously been heavily criticised following its role in the deaths of three children in the space of four months.

Liam Fee was murdered by his mother and her partner at their home in Thornton in March 2014.

A significant case review was launched after the two-and-a-half year old’s death and found that child protection officials had “missed opportunities” to intervene.

Social worker Lesley Bate, who was involved in the case was later struck off for misconduct. Fife Council was also slammed following the death of threeyear-old Mikaeel Kular who was killed by his mother Rosdeep Adekoya in March 2014.

The youngster, who was battered to death, had previously been taken into care when his mother left him home alone to go clubbing in Kirkcaldy.

He was returned to her under “strict” supervision by social workers but cancelled meetings meant no home visits were made for five weeks before his death.

A case review was also launched after the death of Kelty toddler Madison Horn in the same year. The two-year-old was attacked by her mother’s boyfriend, Kevin Park, who left her with 65 separate injuries including a fractured skull and tears to her liver.

Despite being a known violent offender, no information about Park was passed to the child protection services.

The case review found Madison’s death “could not have been anticipated”.

Following the conviction of Gordon McKay yesterday, Alan Small, the independent chairman of Fife child protection committee, said: “We note the court’s decision today but we are not in a position to comment further at this time.”

Social services were notified but did not intervene. Fife protocol has now changed.

JANE FARQUHARSON ADVOCATE DEPUTE