Why didn’t anyone save baby Finley?

YET another child dies at the hands of the parents - this time a ten-month-old baby boy. How can any parent inflict such cruelty and barbarity on a defenceless child? It’s beyond belief. The Mail’s report on this story had me in tears and I can’t even begin to imagine the pain and suffering this baby boy endured. Despite their violent relationship, and the fact they were cannabis users, Finley Boden was returned to their ‘care’. I sincerely hope they get the justice they deserve.

HELEN kENT, glasgow. THIS was never meant to happen again. How did the courts and social services allow another innocent baby to be subjected by his parents to torture and abuse that resulted in his death only 39 days after he had been returned to their care? What happened to the lessons we were told had been learned after the deaths of Victoria Climbie, Baby P and countless other children? After Finley Boden had been taken into care soon after his birth because of fears he would come to harm, how could anyone have concluded that it would be safe to give him back to his drug addict parents, Stephen Boden and Shannon Marsden? Even during the Covid lockdowns, social workers who were prevented from seeing a child in an at-risk home should have called on the police to batter down the door. The NSPCC says recommendations from previous reviews into the murders of babies have not been implemented — why not? It is a total disgrace. Shame on everyone involved. kAREN MOORE, Derby.

ANOTHER child killed by monsters pretending to care for him. They don’t deserve to live, but as we no longer have the death penalty, they should be locked up for the rest of their vile lives. gERRARD FIELDS, Oakham, Rutland.

IF EVER there was a case for the return of the death penalty, it is the terrible murder of baby Finley. His parents will serve their sentences protected from other prisoners. Why should the taxpayer have to fund their incarceration when their guilt is 100 per cent proven? There should be a referendum for the return of the death penalty, as there was for Brexit, but politicians fear the inevitable result. M. BARNES, Withernsea, E. Yorks.