Campaigner calling for change shared her story with law students

Activist and author Claire Throssell MBE, who is campaigning to change parental contact laws following the deaths of her two sons, shared her story with Teesside University law students.

Claire’s sons Jack, 12, and Paul, nine, were killed in 2014 by their father, Claire’s ex-husband, despite her warnings that he was a danger to them.

Since their deaths, Claire has continued to campaign to ensure that children’s voices are heard and is helping to shape national awareness and policy on how the family courts respond to domestic abuse and the safety of children.

She spoke to students from the School of Social Science, Humanities & Law, as well as local family law practitioners, about her personal story and campaign for changes to the law to prevent unsafe child contact with perpetrators of domestic abuse.

Claire said: “I am very grateful to Teesside University for inviting me to speak to the law students to help to raise awareness. They are the solicitors and barristers of the future, and it is important to help them see the impact which their work can have on the lives of real people.”

As a result of Claire’s tireless campaigning, it is now mandatory for the courts to determine whether children will be at risk of harm from a contact order, and perpetrators are no longer able to cross examine their victims in court.

Speaking to the students, Claire said: “You all have a huge responsibility by going into the legal profession. You can make difference to people’s lives by being a fair advocate, by being informed and being trauma aware, to help to make sure this never happens to any other children.

“I hope you will all see your clients as real people and not just a case number. They are people who feel the real consequence of what is decided in the courtroom.”

Claire was invited as a guest speaker by law students Joshua Williams-Muir and Joccoaa Gray, on behalf of the University’s Student Law Society.

Joshua said: “The talk was truly inspiring and very educational around changes needed to better protect children from abusive parents. Teesside University Student Law Society is extremely appreciative that Claire gave up her valuable time to meet with aspiring solicitors and policy makers.”

Angela King, Head of Department, Law, Policing, Investigation and Social Sciences, in the University’s School of Social Sciences, Humanities & Law, said: “We were all deeply moved to hear Claire’s powerful and heartbreaking story. Our law students were inspired by her tireless campaign which is helping to help shape important reforms in domestic abuse law and family courts.”

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