Sacked Baby P boss requests judicial review

The former children's services chief sacked after the Baby P scandal has launched a judicial challenge against Children's Secretary Ed Balls.

Sharon Shoesmith, 56, was dismissed without compensation from Haringey Council, north London after a damning report into her department's failings. A spokeswoman for the Royal Courts of Justice confirmed representatives of Ms Shoesmith had applied for a judicial review of the events surrounding her dismissal.

The action is separate from an employment tribunal claim Ms Shoesmith has lodged against Haringey Council.

Mr Balls sent inspectors to the local authority after the trial of those responsible for 17-month-old Baby P's death. They identified a string of "serious concerns" about Haringey's "inadequate" child protection services.

Mr Balls removed Ms Shoesmith from her post on 1 December last year but she was suspended on full pay until Haringey councillors sacked her a week later. Ms Shoesmith lost an internal appeal against her dismissal in January. Baby P died in August 2007. He had suffered more than 50 injuries at the hands of his mother, her boyfriend and their lodger, despite being on the child protection register and having 60 contacts with the authorities in eight months.