Latest news with #Flintshire
The Independent
8 hours ago
- General
- The Independent
Couple subjected grandson to ‘pain and misery' before his murder, court told
A 'withdrawn' and painfully thin' toddler was subjected to 'distress, pain and misery' in the weeks before he was murdered by his grandparents, a court has heard. Kerry Ives, 46, and her husband Michael, 47, are accused of the murder of their two-year-old grandson Ethan Ives-Griffiths, who died in hospital on August 16 2021 after an ambulance was called to their home in Deeside, Flintshire, two days earlier. Mold Crown Court heard the couple blamed his death on their daughter, Ethan's mother, Shannon Ives, who is accused along with her parents of causing or allowing his death and of child cruelty. At the opening of their trial on Wednesday, a jury was told Shannon Ives, 28, and her son had been living with her parents in the time leading up to his death. Caroline Rees KC said: 'The prosecution say Ethan's time at the first and second defendants' home was thoroughly miserable and he was targeted by the defendants as an object of abuse and neglect.' She added: 'He was quiet and withdrawn, small and painfully thin.' She said the toddler was exposed to 'casual brutality' and, according to a medical expert, would have experienced 'distress, pain and misery in the days and weeks prior to his death'. On the night of August 14, Ethan was downstairs with his grandparents while his mother was upstairs on the phone at the time he sustained his fatal injury, the court heard. Ms Rees said: 'The prosecution say what must have been a forceful attack on Ethan that night was the culmination of physical and emotional neglect and abuse upon him by those who should have cared for him the most.' Both Michael and Kerry Ives told police their grandson had collapsed suddenly. Ms Rees said: 'The prosecution say these two defendants entered a pact of silence as to what they did to Ethan that night, immediately working together as a team of two to conceal the truth about the reason for his fatal collapse.' She said the grandparents had chosen to 'blame their own daughter' rather than admit what really happened. 'They say it must have been Shannon Ives who inflicted the injuries which led to Ethan's death,' she said. Ms Rees said Shannon Ives was aware her parents 'represented a significant risk of physical harm' but 'took no steps to protect her child'. In interview, she said she was scared of her parents and knew them to be abusive, the court heard. Ms Rees said: 'She had seen them shaking Ethan in anger on many occasions. She said she was petrified of her father in particular.' The court heard Kerry Ives delayed calling 999 for almost 20 minutes after Ethan's collapse, before making the call at 9.21pm. Ethan was taken to the Countess of Chester Hospital and then transferred to Alder Hey Children's Hospital for brain surgery, but was pronounced dead at 6pm on August 16. He had 'serious, catastrophic head injuries' and found to be 'severely underweight' and 'covered in bruises', the court heard. The jury was told he weighed 10kg, or 22lb, when he died and at a post-mortem examination 40 external injuries were observed. Medical evidence showed his fatal head injury was caused by deliberate use of force which may have included an element of forceful shaking, Ms Rees said. Abdominal injuries consistent with forceful blows were also found, the court heard. CCTV footage taken from outside the family home in the weeks before his death showed his mother 'standing by, totally unconcerned whilst Ethan was ill-treated and handled by her father in a totally inhumane way', Ms Rees said. In clips shown to the court, Michael Ives could be seen carrying his grandson by the top of his arm, 'dangling him like a rag doll' and appearing to hit out at him after putting him into the backseat of a car. Another clip showed Ethan on a trampoline, where Michael Ives was seen to put the toddler's hands on his head – a technique Ms Rees said was used 'to discipline' the child. Ms Rees said: 'We say that footage can properly be described as harrowing, with a view into how traumatic the last weeks of Ethan's life must have been.' Michael and Kerry Ives, of Kingsley Road, Garden City, deny murder, an alternative count of causing or allowing the death of a child and cruelty to a person under 16. Shannon Ives, of Nant Garmon, Mold, denies causing or allowing the death of a child and cruelty to a person under 16. The trial, which is expected to last six weeks, will continue on Monday.
BBC News
13 hours ago
- General
- BBC News
Flintshire toddler death: Grandparents on trial accused of murder
A couple accused of murdering their two-year-old grandson, who died from a catastrophic brain injury, treated him with "casual brutality", a court has Ives Griffiths was discovered "severely underweight, covered in bruises", after he was allegedly murdered by his grandparents, Michael and Kerry Ives in Garden City, Flintshire, on 16 August Ives, 46, and Mrs Ives, 45, are charged with murder, causing or allowing the death of a child, and cruelty to a child - which they their trial at Mold Crown Court on Wednesday, the prosecutor said the other children had been encouraged to mistreat Ethan as "play". Ethan's mother, Shannon Ives, 28, of Mold, Flintshire, is charged with causing or allowing the death of a child, and cruelty to a child. She also denied the charges. The court heard Ethan, his mother Shannon, and some of her other children were living with her parents in the summer of the prosecution's case, Caroline Rees KC said: "[Ethan] was quiet and withdrawn, small and painfully thin", by the time of his was targeted as an object of "abuse and neglect," and in the run-up to his death, experienced "distress, pain and misery".He collapsed on 14 August, 2021 after a "forceful attack" by those that should have cared for him most, the jury was told. The prosecution said Mr and Mrs Ives were the only ones with him when he was assaulted, and his mother Shannon was upstairs on her mother is not charged with murder, but the prosecution claimed she was aware he was at risk, and "did nothing to protect him from that risk".Following the assault, his grandparents entered "a pact of silence as to what they did to Ethan that night".They chose instead, to blame their daughter, the court Rees added: "They both had something serious to hide, namely that they were both involved in causing his death."She said Ethan was the victim of an assault on a "vulnerable, defenceless child," and added he was "treated with casual brutality by the people trusted to protect him."The trial continues.
North Wales Chronicle
28-05-2025
- Health
- North Wales Chronicle
Free period products available in public spaces in Wales
This initiative is part of the Welsh Government's £3.2 million Period Dignity fund. The funding aims to provide essential period products to all who need them, in a bid to eradicate period poverty by 2027. These products are now freely available not only in every school and college in Wales but also in hundreds of public venues, including libraries, leisure centres, food banks, sports clubs, and youth hubs. The Welsh Government is determined that no one should miss education, work, or social activities because they cannot afford or access period products. Flintshire has been particularly successful with its 'Reusable Period Product Parties', which provide free reusable period cup kits, pad kits, and period pants. These events also create spaces for open conversations about menstrual health. The Community Sports Development Team in Flintshire has also included period products in first aid kits during outdoor activities and events. Councillor Mared Eastwood, Flintshire Council's cabinet member for education, Welsh language, culture, and leisure, said: "Holding Reusable Period Product Parties across libraries and leisure centres has helped to raise awareness and educate the community on reusable products, including a more sustainable alternative to disposable options. "Over 500 free reusable period pad kits, period pants kits, and period cup kits have been distributed through these events with many period positive conversations." The Welsh Government's cabinet secretary for social justice, Jane Hutt, said: "Period products are essential items and should be freely available to everyone who needs them. "Flintshire's approach to offering reusable products in public spaces while encouraging open conversations about periods is helping break down stigma." The minister for mental health and wellbeing, Sarah Murphy, said: "Menstrual health is one of the eight priority areas in our Women's Health Plan. "We are striving for period equity for all women and girls with access to products, facilities, and healthcare to manage their period and menstrual health. "By making free period products widely available across Wales, we're not just addressing period poverty – we're empowering women to participate fully in life without barriers."
Rhyl Journal
28-05-2025
- Health
- Rhyl Journal
Free period products available in public spaces in Wales
This initiative is part of the Welsh Government's £3.2 million Period Dignity fund. The funding aims to provide essential period products to all who need them, in a bid to eradicate period poverty by 2027. These products are now freely available not only in every school and college in Wales but also in hundreds of public venues, including libraries, leisure centres, food banks, sports clubs, and youth hubs. The Welsh Government is determined that no one should miss education, work, or social activities because they cannot afford or access period products. Flintshire has been particularly successful with its 'Reusable Period Product Parties', which provide free reusable period cup kits, pad kits, and period pants. These events also create spaces for open conversations about menstrual health. The Community Sports Development Team in Flintshire has also included period products in first aid kits during outdoor activities and events. Councillor Mared Eastwood, Flintshire Council's cabinet member for education, Welsh language, culture, and leisure, said: "Holding Reusable Period Product Parties across libraries and leisure centres has helped to raise awareness and educate the community on reusable products, including a more sustainable alternative to disposable options. "Over 500 free reusable period pad kits, period pants kits, and period cup kits have been distributed through these events with many period positive conversations." The Welsh Government's cabinet secretary for social justice, Jane Hutt, said: "Period products are essential items and should be freely available to everyone who needs them. "Flintshire's approach to offering reusable products in public spaces while encouraging open conversations about periods is helping break down stigma." The minister for mental health and wellbeing, Sarah Murphy, said: "Menstrual health is one of the eight priority areas in our Women's Health Plan. "We are striving for period equity for all women and girls with access to products, facilities, and healthcare to manage their period and menstrual health. "By making free period products widely available across Wales, we're not just addressing period poverty – we're empowering women to participate fully in life without barriers."
Leader Live
28-05-2025
- Health
- Leader Live
Free period products available in public spaces in Wales
This initiative is part of the Welsh Government's £3.2 million Period Dignity fund. The funding aims to provide essential period products to all who need them, in a bid to eradicate period poverty by 2027. These products are now freely available not only in every school and college in Wales but also in hundreds of public venues, including libraries, leisure centres, food banks, sports clubs, and youth hubs. The Welsh Government is determined that no one should miss education, work, or social activities because they cannot afford or access period products. Flintshire has been particularly successful with its 'Reusable Period Product Parties', which provide free reusable period cup kits, pad kits, and period pants. These events also create spaces for open conversations about menstrual health. The Community Sports Development Team in Flintshire has also included period products in first aid kits during outdoor activities and events. Councillor Mared Eastwood, Flintshire Council's cabinet member for education, Welsh language, culture, and leisure, said: "Holding Reusable Period Product Parties across libraries and leisure centres has helped to raise awareness and educate the community on reusable products, including a more sustainable alternative to disposable options. "Over 500 free reusable period pad kits, period pants kits, and period cup kits have been distributed through these events with many period positive conversations." READ MORE: Optician Dawn set sights on half marathon charity fundraiser The Welsh Government's cabinet secretary for social justice, Jane Hutt, said: "Period products are essential items and should be freely available to everyone who needs them. "Flintshire's approach to offering reusable products in public spaces while encouraging open conversations about periods is helping break down stigma." The minister for mental health and wellbeing, Sarah Murphy, said: "Menstrual health is one of the eight priority areas in our Women's Health Plan. "We are striving for period equity for all women and girls with access to products, facilities, and healthcare to manage their period and menstrual health. "By making free period products widely available across Wales, we're not just addressing period poverty – we're empowering women to participate fully in life without barriers."
