Shaken Baby Case: Lorraine Allen Appeal Granted

A mother who was the victim of a serious miscarriage of justice in one of the high-profile ‘shaken-baby’ cases has today learned she will be able to appeal against a previous decision that barred her from claiming compensation.

Lorraine Allen, formerly Harris, was convicted of the manslaughter of her four-month old son Patrick in 2000, after prosecution experts claimed the only explanation for his collapse was violent shaking or shaking plus impact.

She was sentenced to three years imprisonment and a child born while she was serving that sentence was taken away from her and placed for adoption.

However Lorraine’s conviction was quashed in 2005, after fresh medical expert evidence proved it to be unsafe.

As a victim of miscarriage of justice, she applied for compensation but this was refused by the Home Secretary because her claim, it was argued, did not meet the statutory criteria.

Today’s decision to grant her leave to appeal could mean Lorraine, originally from Long Eaton in Derbyshire but now living in Scarborough, could finally receive the compensation she is entitled to.

Her solicitor, Mike Pemberton, a specialist in human rights and judicial review cases at Stephensons Solicitors LLP, said: “This has been a long road for Lorraine. Nothing can rectify the loss of her son Patrick, the subsequent miscarriage of justice and adoption of her second child as she began her sentence. However, this appeal allows her continued hope that some kind of just closure will be obtained and allows her to deal with the traumatic events she has endured.”

Lorraine’s story was featured in a special BBC Inside Out programme on April 1st 2008. (Yorkshire region).