Climbie case blame pact

The council and health authority at the centre of the Victoria Climbie scandal hatched a secret pact not to criticise each other during the public inquiry into her death.

A letter sent to Haringey council from Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Health Authority reveals a prior agreement to "not in any way attack or blame each other for mistakes made".

The deal was done in an apparent attempt to downplay the roles of Haringey social workers and North Middlesex Hospital doctors, both of whom are accused of missing chances to save Victoria being murdered.

But it fell apart once the inquiry began last September, when Haringey council's barrister attacked doctors at the hospital.

Details of the agreement are disclosed in a letter that has been submitted to the public inquiry, in which health authority executives attack Haringey for apparently reneging. Addressed to council leader George Meehan, it is signed by six senior members of the health authority.

It reads: "Our understanding in detailed discussions had always been that we would take a joint and positive approach to the inquiry. It would not in any way involve us attacking or blaming each other for mistakes made.

"Accordingly, counsel for NHS organisations did not make reference to Haringey counsel in their opening statements. However, Haringey's counsel was critical of a number of aspects of the role played by the NHS."

Mr Meehan has insisted he was not aware of any agreement. Victoria died after being beaten to death by her great-aunt Marie-Therese Kouao and Kouao's boyfriend Carl Manning. Both are serving life for her murder.

The hearing continues.