Raid of mafia kingpin allies
Mum ‘relieved’ after judge’s verdict
FIONA MCGHIE LAWYER FOR CHILD’S MUM THE father of Poppi Worthington has failed in a bid to clear his name over sexual abuse the toddler suffered before her death.
A High Court judge rejected Paul Worthington’s application to change the inquest verdict to remove mention of the abuse and change the official record of 13-month-old Poppi’s death in 2012.
Mrs Justice Farbey ordered him to pay costs for bringing the judicial review.
Poppi’s mother, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said she was “relieved” by yesterday’s decision.
Fiona McGhie, representing her, said: “The years since Poppi died have been a complete nightmare for her.”
But she added: “It is likely she may never get full closure on exactly what happened that night.”
In January, coroner David Roberts ruled Poppi was abused in her father’s bed at the family home in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, but this did not cause her death.
He concluded Poppi suffo-
APPEAL Paul Worthington cated as she slept next to her father in an “unsafe sleeping environment”.
Mr Worthington’s lawyers argued that as the coroner ruled sex abuse did not cause her death, the words describing it should be taken out of the record.
But Mrs Justice Farbey ruled: “Neither the coroner’s approach nor his conclusion can be faulted.” She said references to the sex act were “essential to explain why Poppi was in the unsafe sleeping environment which caused her death”.
Mr Worthington, 50, who refused to answer 252 questions about his daughter’s death during the inquest so as not to incriminate himself, was ordered to pay court costs, subject to ability to pay.
The former supermarket worker has already received £117,000 in legal aid. Police botched the probe into Poppi’s death and the Crown Prosecution Service is not bringing charges due to a lack of evidence. Mr Worthington denies any wrongdoing and has never been charged. His sister Tracy Worthington said: “He will never be able to clear his name with police losing the evidence.” POLICE hunting a fugitive Cosa Nostra mafia boss yesterday searched properties linked to 25 of his suspected accomplices.
Sicilian officers made one arrest as they try to close in on Matteo Messina “Diabolik” Denaro, 56.
Denaro, of Trapani, has been on the run since 1993.
The years since Poppi died have been a nightmare