Baby P suffered more than 50 injuries despite being on the at-risk register and receiving 60 visits from social workers, police officers and health professionals over eight months.
Connelly, now in her 40s, admitted in evidence that she had been a “bad mother” who “knew deep down” that Barker was abusing her son, and that she believed she would pose a risk to children in her care.
Connelly also accepted that she lied to professionals supervising her about the relationship she started last year but insisted that she had developed trust with officials since being recalled to prison.
A psychologist told the hearing that it was possible that Connelly had been lying.
Panel member Fiona Ainsworth asked: “Could she be deceiving us now?”
“The answer to that is yes she could,” the psychologist said.
The psychologist added that it was also possible that the work Connelly has done and the treatment she had received to tackle difficulties in being honest “have brought authentic change”.
The psychologist also noted that they would not expect Connelly to be violent towards children, but said the risk increased if she became involved in an unhealthy relationship or if her mental health worsened.
The panel heard that Connelly meets the test for release from prison.
