Understand
Claire Throssell campaigns for 12 years to change family court law after sons' deaths
Overview
Claire Throssell has spent 12 years campaigning to change the law surrounding the presumption of parental involvement after her estranged husband, Darren Sykes, killed their two sons, Jack and Paul, in a house fire in October 2014. Despite warnings about his abusive behavior and the children's fear of him, the family court had allowed unsupervised access visits. Following a dedicated campaign, the Courts and Tribunals Bill has successfully passed its final stages in the House of Commons, removing the automatic presumption of parental contact to help protect children from known abusers.
Key points
- Claire Throssell's sons, Jack (12) and Paul (9), were killed in an attic fire set by their father, Darren Sykes, on 22 October 2014 during an unsupervised access visit.
- The family court had sanctioned the visit despite evidence of domestic abuse and warnings from both Claire and the children that Sykes was dangerous.
- Claire has campaigned for 12 years to abolish the legal presumption of parental involvement after separation, which assumes children benefit from contact with both parents.
- The Courts and Tribunals Bill, which removes this automatic presumption to prioritise child safety, passed through its final stages in the House of Commons.
- Claire watched the law change pass from the public gallery while holding a photograph of her sons, stating it provides a lasting legacy for Jack and Paul.