Allison Munroe has a mixed practice, often acting for vulnerable clients and emphasising the protection of their civil liberties. This has included representing bereaved families in the high-profile Grenfell Tower Fire Public Inquiry. Allison is an experienced family practitioner, regularly working on cases in the High Court. 

Alison begins her presentation by outlining the context, from the historical phenomenon of “filicide” to relevant contemporary research and statistical data regarding child mortality. She then goes on to talk about fact-finding hearings, referring to relevant case law and key considerations to be made. Afterwards, she highlights important differences between the Family Court and Criminal Courts. She ends by discussing the ways in which different actors share information in these processes, referring to official guidance.

Key words/topics

Filicide

Child mortality

Homicide

Fact-finding hearings 

Care proceedings

 Lincolnshire County Council v CB & Ors [2021] EWHC 2813 (Fam)

A County Council v DP [2005] EWHC 1593 (Fam); [2005] 2 FLR 1031

Disclosure of Information between Family and Criminal Agencies and Jurisdictions: 2024 Protocol

Safeguarding

Sharing information

Disclosure