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SOCIAL DISSERVICE

Child welfare councillor at Ellie Butler authority sent email hoping media were ‘distracted by Brexit’ on day of dad’s murder conviction

Wendy Mathys now facing calls to 'do the honourable thing' and step down

A COUNCILLOR in charge of child welfare is facing a formal complaint after saying she hoped the media would be distracted from the murder of six-year-old Ellie Butler - by BREXIT.

Wendy Mathys, lead councillor for child safeguarding at Sutton Council, emailed chief executive Niall Bolger on the day dad Ben Butler was convicted of Ellie's murder to say she hoped media attention would be diverted by "other events".

 Ellie died after suffering a string of injuries at her father's hands
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Ellie died after suffering a string of injuries at her father's handsCredit: PA:Press Association
 Ben Butler was jailed for 23 years for murdering the six-year-old
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Ben Butler was jailed for 23 years for murdering the six-year-oldCredit: PA:Press Association

Butler was found guilty two days before the June 23 referendum and following his conviction Sutton Safeguarding Children Board published a serious case review detailing the family's involvement with local authorities.

Ellie died after suffering a string of injuries, including a broken shoulder, during months of physical abuse at her father's hands.

Butler was jailed for 23 years for murdering the six-year-old.

The back of Ellie's head was a "boggy mess", the court heard, and a post-mortem revealed she was either beaten over the head with a heavy object or thrown against the floor or wall.

 

A series of texts and letters used as evidence in the trial revealed Butler regularly criticised the young girl, calling her a c*** when she wet herself in front of him.

Despite the review finding Sutton social services could not have done any more to prevent the young girl's death, Cllr Mathys now faces calls to resign from Conservative leader Tim Crowley who said she was more concerned with the council's and her own reputation.

Cllr Crowley said: "Not only have Councillor Mathys's comments on 'hoping the media will be diverted elsewhere' now have been picked up by other publications thus bringing her own position into account.

"But they also have broken the code of conduct with regards to Cllr Matthys integrity, openness, transparency and leadership along with what I regard is the not allowed use of the council's communications department to try and protect her own personal position.

 Ellie's mum Jennie Gray, 36 was found guilty of child cruelty and perverting the course of justice
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Ellie's mum Jennie Gray, 36 was found guilty of child cruelty and perverting the course of justiceCredit: LONDON METROPLITAN POLICE
 Six-year-old Ellie was murdered by her dad, who she had been taken away from 11 months earlier
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Six-year-old Ellie was murdered by her dad, who she had been taken away from 11 months earlierCredit: LONDON METROPLITAN POLICE

"I am still calling for Cllr Mathys resignation and hope that in the light of this fresh complaint she will do the honourable thing and step down to save the council and her party from further embarrassment."

The authority's standards committee are set to meet on July 21 to discuss any complaints made against members, including about Cllr Mathys's comments.

A council spokesman said this week Cllr Mathys had "nothing to add" to her initial claims that her email was "misinterpreted" and had been made in reference to Ellie Butler's family, who she said she hoped would be spared "further public intrusion at what is a very painful time".

In a statement issued through the council's press office, she added: "I hope Ellie's friends and family can be left in peace to come to terms with their loss and the fact that justice has now been done.

"This was what I meant in my email to fellow councillors and I am sorry that it has been misinterpreted."


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