Family call for 'Ethan's Law' after toddler, 2, murdered by his grandparents

The family of a two-year-old boy murdered by his grandparents is calling for an “Ethan’s Law” - giving social services more powers if they are denied access to a child.

Little Ethan Ives-Griffiths was dangerously dehydrated and severely underweight when he collapsed with a catastrophic head injury on August 14, 2021. He died two days later. A court heard he was “targeted for abuse and subjected to casual cruelty” by his grandparents, Michael Ives, 47, and Kerry Ives, 46, while living in their home in Flintshire, North Wales.

The couple were convicted of Ethan’s murder last month. His mother, Shannon Ives, 28, was convicted of causing or allowing his death. Jurors at Mold crown court heard Ethan had been placed on the child protection register, requiring him to be seen every 10 days. But when Shannon Ives last saw her social worker, on August 5, she spoke to him on the doorstep and told him Ethan was having a nap.

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No-one answered the door when a social worker went to visit in the days before Ethan's death and a scheduled appointment with a health visitor on August 13 was cancelled.

Now Ethan’s family has launched a petition on change.org calling for cases to be immediately escalated to police for a welfare check, where protocols aren’t followed, especially for children on the protection register.

His aunt, Rebecca Shone, whose petition has almost 30,000 signatures, said: “Ethan didn’t slip through the cracks, he was failed by a system that wasn’t built to respond when access is denied or when a child is in danger behind closed doors.”

She added: “The aim is to give social services more power to be able to move forward and escalate to the police if they are denied access to check on children.

“They do have powers, but in a lot of cases these aren’t followed, that’s why cases like this keep coming up, it’s not just Ethan.

“I know they have a difficult job, and they need more resources, but we would like to see referral to the police become standard practice.”

She described Ethan as a “happy, smiling, cheeky” little boy, but added sadly “obviously we didn’t have a lot of time with him”, adding: “Before he went to his grandparents he was always happy. There was no reason that had to change.”

Rebecca said: “When social services called at their house I would have liked them to call the police, or at the very least make another visit later the same day, and if it happens again then call them.

“It should have been escalated for a welfare check. It’s so easy for parents, or grandparents, to fob them off, that’s why it should be standard practice.

“I know it will be a nightmare on resources, but children’s welfare should come first. Structures should be put in place to support this approach.”

On Ethan’s grandparents, Rebecca said: “These were people who should have cherished and protected him. Instead, his grandfather and grandmother were found guilty of his murder.

“Ethan’s own mother was also convicted of causing or allowing the death of a child and cruelty to a child. She stood by while her son suffered - failing in her duty to protect him during the most vulnerable time of his life.

“When Ethan was found, he was severely malnourished, covered in bruises, and had sustained a traumatic head injury. He was later pronounced brain dead. The level of neglect and cruelty he endured is beyond words. While justice has finally been served, and Ethan’s soul can now rest in peace, the grief and loss our family feels will never fade.”

In her petition she wrote: “What makes this even harder is that Ethan was known to social services. The court heard that he had been placed on the child protection register, which meant he was supposed to be seen every 10 days.

“A visit was booked for 5 August, but when the social worker arrived, they were turned away at the door and told the household was isolating due to Covid, and that Ethan was asleep.

“In the days before his death, a social worker attempted to visit again, but no one answered the door. A scheduled health visitor appointment on 13 August, just three days before Ethan died, was also cancelled.

“That’s why I’m calling for Ethan’s Law to bring about the urgent reforms needed in child protection. Right now, social workers can carry out home visits without a warrant, but if they are refused entry (as they were in Ethan’s case) they have no power to escalate it unless the situation appears visibly urgent.

“We believe that must change. If entry is denied, the visit should automatically be escalated to the police for a welfare check. If this step is not taken, social workers must be held accountable for failing to follow protocol, especially when a child is already on the protection register.”

She adds: “We’re also calling for increased frequency of checks. For children on the register, visits should take place every 5-7 days, not every 10.

“For children not yet on the register but known to services, we’re urging for checks every 4-6 weeks by health professionals such as health visitors or GPs. Regular, thorough monitoring of vulnerable children can help identify danger sooner, intervene earlier, and ultimately save lives.”

She said: “We couldn’t save Ethan but we can honour him by making sure this never happens again.”

During the five-and-a-half week trial jurors were shown CCTV from the family home of Michael Ives carrying his grandson by the top of his arm and appearing to punch him after putting him into a car seat.

Michael Ives accused daughter Shannon of hitting her son saying she was “quick-tempered” and would slap Ethan a couple of times a day. But Shannon Ives told the court her parents were “horrible” and abused her as a child.

The court heard Ethan was made to stand with his hands on his head as a punishment when he misbehaved. When Ethan was examined by doctors after his death, he was found to have abdominal injuries likely to have been caused by blows in the days before his collapse.

Mr Justice Griffiths said Michael Ives and Kerry Ives would be given life sentences and Shannon Ives will face a “substantial” spell in prison when they return to court on October 3.

To sign the petition visit Change.org/EthansLaw