Tia's addict mum to sue council - The Sun

A JAILBIRD junkie mother whose 12-year-old daughter was murdered by her uncle is planning to sue social workers for failing to protect the youngster.

Lynne Rigg, 34, has a long history of crack cocaine and heroin addiction and served two jail terms, regularly leaving her children either home alone or with relatives.

In April last year, her daughter Tia Rigg, 12, was lured to Lynne's brother John Maden's home in Cheetham Hill, Manchester, on the pretext of her babysitting for the father-of-one.

The 38-year-old then drugged and bound his unsuspecting niece before acting out a twisted fantasy from his collection of pornographic snuff films

The schoolgirl was subjected to horrifying sexual injuries with a broom handle before being stabbed and strangled with a guitar wire.

Afterwards he calmly told a 999 operator: "My niece has been murdered by me and I've just finished killing her now."

Lynne, a mother of seven whose children were born to four different fathers, claims social workers were to blame over the lack of care for Tia and has hired lawyers to help her claim damages at the taxpayer's expense.

A damning serious case review into Salford City Council's handling of Tia declared that social workers missed seven chances to help her by intervening over the behaviour of her mother.

The review found Tia was initially on an 'at risk register' for being "likely to suffer physical abuse" after fears over her chaotic family life at home but was taken off the register when officials believed Lynne could care for her.

But the report stressed that Tia's death could ultimately not have been "predicted or prevented" as there was no prior evidence Maden posed a threat to her.

Lynne's solicitor, Richard Scorer, of Manchester based Pannone LLP, said: "We are advising Tia's mother with regard to the conduct of Salford social services in the period prior to and immediately before Tia's death.

"The report is critical of children's services and recognises that there has been a failure of agencies to share information properly.

"Whilst it does not appear any individuals have been dismissed or disciplined, we understand that many of the individuals who were involved in Tia's case do not work for children's services any more.

"We are investigating matters further and will be speaking with our client as to any possible legal action the agencies involved."

The report found that Tia had come into contact with a number of agencies during her life, who should have recognised she was at risk of harm because of her unstable home environment.

There were so many concerns about Lynne Rigg and her family that Tia had been put on the child protection register before she was born.

Between October 2009 and March last year there were seven incidents within Tia's family which should have prompted Salford children's services to consider taking legal action to protect her and her siblings.

These included her mother attempting suicide in front of her children, one child being left home alone and violence between family members.

The report said: "The combination of drugs misuse, domestic violence, and parental mental health, alongside historical factors, should have led to a much higher level of concern than was seen in this case."

Lynne's the three oldest children were placed with extended family members from a young age as she was unable to care for them.

Maden plead guilty to Tia's murder on April 3, 2010, and was jailed for life at Manchester Crown Court last October.

Councillor John Merry, leader of Salford council, said: "We know more could have been done during her childhood to support her in coping with her unstable home life.

"However, even if this child has been removed from her home, she would not have been prevented from having contact with her family - removing her would therefore not have prevented her death."

Gill Rigg, Chair of Salford's Safeguarding Board, said: "This report does highlight a number of missed opportunities to help this child and it is important all of the agencies involved learn from this so they can better protect children living in Salford.

The report in Tia's death comes after four years of turmoil in the city's children's services department.

Two years ago, a damning review into the case of another murdered child in Salford, two-year-old Demi Leigh Mahon, was published. Social workers were warned 12 times by police, neighbours, and relatives about her chaotic domestic life.

Last December, Jill Baker, director of children services, was sacked.

An executive summary of the report can be found at Salford.