Claire Throssell’s sons Jack, 12, and Paul, nine, were killed in a devastating house fire deliberately started by their dad. She has campaigned tirelessly amid her grief and is set to make history again
A mum whose two sons were killed by their father said she hopes they would be proud after a decade of campaigning in their names has resulted in a promised law change which will save children’s lives.
Claire Throssell’s sons Jack, 12, and Paul, nine, were killed in a devastating house fire deliberately started by their dad. He had been granted access to his children for five hours a week, despite Ms Throssell’s evidence that he had previously threatened to kill them and himself.
Twisted dad Darren Sykes lured the boys to the attic to play with trains he had bought them, before setting fires around the house. He then barricaded them inside with him.
Paul and his father died in the house, while Jack was taken to hospital and died days later.
Ms Throssell from Penistone in Sheffield, has since campaigned tirelessly to stop dangerous parents having unsafe access to their children, helping to pass the Domestic Abuse Act in 2011 and being awarded an MBE.
She says the latest legal change – announced around the 11th anniversary of her sons’ deaths – “will save so many children’s lives”.
The Government has agreed it will repeal a law under the Children Act 1989 which currently guides the Family Court to presume that contact with both parents is usually in the best interests of a child.
The Ministry of Justice said while this current presumption can be overturned if there is evidence that a parent could put the child at risk of harm, removing this particular law completely should lead to quicker decisions to restrict the involvement of abusive parents.
Ms Throssell said she had been inspired by her love for her sons to keep fighting despite having been “in the darkest places” amidst her grief. She now hopes “that they’d be proud” of her achievement.
In an interview with the PA news agency, she said: “It doesn’t feel like a victory or a win, but it does feel that there is a change coming in the country, and it will save so many children’s lives. I have to take comfort from that.
“I had a choice. I could have given in, given up, hated the world. It’s easier to hate than to love, as we know at the moment, and I chose to harness their love and fight.”
Dame Nicole Jacobs has criticised “antiquated views” in the courts system which she said were contributing to decisions which put children in harm’s way.
The Ministry of Justice has not given a timeframe for repealing the law, only that it will do so “when parliamentary time allows”.
But Ms Throssell insists the change must come urgently.
She said: “It needs to go through as soon as possible. Children can’t wait. Whilst there’s no change in place, children are still at risk of dying, children are still at risk of harm.”
Farah Nazeer, chief executive of Women’s Aid which has been campaigning on the issue for decades and has supported Ms Throssell in her fight, said repealing the law “has the potential to absolutely change the lives of survivors and child survivors of domestic abuse”.
But she said while the announcement is “brilliant”, a key issue is also the training of judges.
She said: “There is a fundamental lack of transparency and accountability when it comes to judges and magistrates recognising domestic abuse, recognising coercive control, and hearing child voices in the Family Court system.
“So we really need for those judges to be trained to understand what is happening when they’re seeing it unfold before their eyes.”
Justice minister Sarah Sackman said the announcement is “hugely significant” and one “which will help us protect children for years to come”.
She said: “What today’s announced change in the law does is it puts the focus back on to children.”
Pressed on how soon the law might change, she said: “I’m eager for it to happen as soon as parliamentary time allows. I think the fact that we’re announcing it today sends a clear signal to family courts about the direction of travel, about the fact that this Government’s emphasis is on putting the child’s voice at the centre of the Family Court.
“So in and of itself, I think it’s significant, but I want to see that law change as soon as possible.”