The family of a toddler murdered by his grandparents have criticized a delay in a review of social services’ contact with the young boy.
In August 2021, two-year-old Ethan Ives-Griffiths was murdered by Michael and Kerry Ives at his home in Garden City, Flintshire. Their daughter Shannon Ives (Ethan’s mother) was found guilty of child abuse and causing or allowing Ethan’s death.
The North Wales Safeguarding Commission is expected to receive a report in early 2026 into the agency’s contacts with Eason. However, the board said further interviews were still needed and it was unclear when the report would be released.
Kellie Shone, Ethan’s grandmother, said any delay was “another failure.”
Sean, who lives in Flint, said: “Social services failed when Ethan needed protection the most.
“Now, after everything our family has been through, the delay in releasing comments feels like yet another failure.
“Not just for us, but for the public, they deserve answers too – and so does every child who relies on this system to stay safe.
“When a child dies as a result of a system failure, delaying an independent review only deepens concerns and undermines confidence in those charged with protecting vulnerable children.
“When systems designed to protect children fail, there must be accountability.
“The public deserves clear answers about what went wrong and what will change in the future.”
Ethan’s grandmother Kelly Shawn [BBC]
The events leading to Ethan’s death
Ethan died in August 2021 from a catastrophic brain injury that prosecutors claimed was caused by one or both of his maternal grandparents.
During the seven weeks he lived with them, he became severely malnourished and dehydrated, and died with more than 40 wounds on his body.
Ethan was placed on the child protection register in June 2021 after his mother Shannon and father Will Griffiths split.
The toddler, his siblings and his mother went to live with the Ives family.
A trial at Molde Crown Court in 2025 heard that Ethan should be seen every 10 days because he was on the register.
However, social workers last saw him on July 22, 2021, more than three weeks after his death on August 16.
In the weeks before Ethan’s death, social workers and health visitors made numerous attempts to visit him but were refused.
During a visit on August 5, due to COVID-19 restrictions, a social worker stayed at the door for about 45 minutes but did not see Ethan because his mother said he was napping.
When social workers and a health visitor tried to visit Shannon Ives and Ethan on August 12, there was no reply.
Shannon Ives did not return calls the next day.
At the end of the trial last year, Flintshire Council said: “In line with our determination to protect those who need us most”, the council was “working with the North Wales Safeguarding Committee, which is leading a multi-agency review of this tragic case”.
Sentences transferred to the Court of Appeal
North Wales Safeguarding Council is overseeing a review of practices for children. It expects the report to be presented to the board in early 2026.
But further work is needed following a “learning event” held earlier this month.
The Council for Conservation told BBC Wales: “At this time, the Council is unable to provide an exact release date.
“It is always difficult to predict exactly when a children’s practice review will be published because reviewers are always guided by the information published.
“This time, following an initial learning event held in February, the panel identified the need for further interviews to ensure the knowledge provided for the review is as reliable as possible.
“Therefore, the publication is likely to be released later in 2026.”
Michael Ives was sentenced to life in prison in October 2025, with a minimum term of 23 years. His wife Kerry was also sentenced to life in prison, with a minimum term of 17 years. Ethan’s mother, Shannon, was jailed for 12 years.
BBC Wales has learned that a hearing will be held next month to decide whether to increase the sentences of Michael Ives and Kerry Ives.
A spokesman for the Attorney General’s Office said: “We received a request to consider this sentence under the Undue Leniency in Sentencing (ULS) scheme.
“Law enforcement officers referred the sentences of Michael and Kerry Ives to the Court of Appeal as they agreed their sentences were unduly lenient. It is now up to the courts to decide whether to increase their sentences.”