The inquest into the deaths of Darcey-Helen and Chloe-Ann Conley revealed instances where witnesses were concerned about the girls’ safety due to their mother, Kerri-Ann Conley, using drugs. Witnesses described how the girls were left in the car multiple times, driven around in the early hours of the morning, and neglected, leading to significant concerns about their well-being. Conley had expressed a preference for a boy during her pregnancy with Darcey-Helen and stated that she wanted to dump the baby on her father’s doorstep if it was a girl. Nurses reported that Conley would disappear for hours at night, leaving the newborn with hospital staff.
Concerns about Conley’s drug use were raised by family members, with Mr. Jackson expressing worries about the children’s safety. The girls’ grandmother, Deanne Power, noticed unusual behavior from Darcey-Helen, such as banging her head against the wall, which she believed to be related to drugs in her system. Child Safety eventually became involved due to these concerns, with family members reporting that Conley had admitted to buying urine to pass drug tests. Despite these red flags, the full extent of Conley’s drug use was not investigated, and no significant action was taken to protect the children.
Kerri-Ann Conley pleaded guilty to manslaughter charges related to the deaths of her daughters. It was revealed during the inquest that Mr. Jackson was not listed on Chloe-Ann’s birth certificate, but Child Safety considered him to be the father. Further details emerged about the neglect the girls faced, including Darcey-Helen going to daycare without lunches and suffering from significant nappy rash. Daycare staff took it upon themselves to bathe the toddler and provide her with food when needed, highlighting the lack of care and attention from Conley.
The inquest is scheduled to last five days and will include testimonies from Child Safety staff, Metro South Health professionals, and the police. Key areas of focus include Child Safety’s decision to return Darcey-Helen to her mother after she was initially removed from Conley’s care in November 2017. The evidence presented during the inquest sheds light on the systemic failures that may have contributed to the tragic deaths of the young girls and raises questions about the effectiveness of the child protection system in ensuring the safety and well-being of vulnerable children. Despite warnings and concerns from family members, authorities did not take sufficient action to address the issues surrounding Conley’s drug use and neglect of her children, ultimately leading to a devastating outcome.
