14 Jan 2010

Aisling Murray stabbed her little girl after social services said she was not a risk

A mentally-ill mum killed her five-year-old girl by knifing her 52 times after a series of warnings that she was a danger were ignored.

Aisling Murray, a paranoid schizophrenic, stabbed screaming Chloe during a twisted ritual after transforming her daughter’s bedroom into an altar.

A report published yesterday revealed Chloe’s teachers, dad David Fahey and Murray’s mum had all begged the authorities to lock her up.

David made repeated calls for help over Murray’s worrying state of mind.

And staff at Chloe’s school were so concerned they dialled 999.

Murray, a 23-year-old mum-of-two with a history of mental illness, had been discharged from hospital just a few weeks before the killing and was ruled not to be a risk.

The night before Chloe’s death, Murray was arrested for attacking David at their house in Stretford, Greater Manchester.

Officers took her to hospital but she was later discharged and David went to stay with relatives with their youngest child.

On the day of the killing, a mental health team visited Murray but did not readmit her to hospital.

Later that evening, her mum went to Stretford police station and begged officers to go to the house because Murray was alone with Chloe. They did – but left after speaking to Murray through a window. Hours later neighbours heard Chloe begging for her life. The report by deputy High Court judge Frances Patterson QC said the care provided for Murray was “sadly lacking” and her family was “isolated”.

It said the social worker responsible for Murray had too many cases, too few resources and was inadequately supervised.

Murray, whose murder conviction was reduced to manslaughter on appeal, has been detained indefinitely in a secure unit.

THE TRAGIC BLUNDERS

The report said Murray’s mental health team did not pay enough attention to her family’s needs.

And it said the social worker’s assessment the day before the killing had been “seriously flawed.”

Police were also criticised for failing to communicate with Chloe’s father David.