Pictures have emerged of a one-year-old who died of a head injury after he was placed with adoptive parents, as police last night revealed they had arrested a man and a woman on suspicion of murder.
The photographs show ‘happy and cheerful’ Leiland Corkill with his natural mother, Laura, before his tragic death last month.
The one-year-old was rushed to Furness General Hospital in Cumbria with a severe head injury on January 6.
He died the following day, after being moved to a dedicated children’s hospital.
His death sparked a murder investigation, with a man, 34, and a woman, 37, being arrested on suspicion of murder.
Now, speaking to the Sun, Leiland’s grandmother, Yvonne Corkill, has described his death as ‘horrible’.
One-year-old Leiland Corkill (pictured) was rushed to Furness General Hospital in Cumbria with a severe head injury on January 6
Pictures show ‘happy and cheerful’ Leiland Corkill with his natural mother, Laura, before his tragic death last month
She told the paper: ‘He was a happy, cheerful little boy and we can’t believe what’s happened.’
Ms Corkill told the paper that she and Laura had rushed to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, in Liverpool, after Leiland was moved there from Furness General Hospital.
She added: ‘I was there when he was born and I was there at the end. I can’t believe the two were just a year apart.’
According to the Sun, Leiland was taken into care within 48 hours of his birth and was later adopted.
Posting a picture of her and Leiland in August last year, Laura spoke of her regret about the ‘bad choices’ in her past.
It comes after police revealed that a man and a woman had been arrested on suspicion of the murder of Leiland in what council chiefs describe as a ‘deeply distressing case.’
The child was living with his adoptive parents in Barrow when police received a report from North West Ambulance Service regarding the incident at a property in Cumbria.
He was still under the care of Cumbria County Council, who have since referred themselves for an independent review.
The child was living with adoptive parents in Barrow when he died while still under the care of Cumbria County Council, who have since referred themselves for an independent review. Pictured: Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool
A woman, 37, and a man, 34, both from Barrow, have now been arrested on suspicion of murder, causing and allowing the death of a child and two other counts of assault/ill treatment/neglect/abandon a child/young person to cause unnecessary injury.
They have been released on bail pending an investigation.
John Readman, executive director of People at Cumbria County Council, said in a statement: ‘This is a deeply distressing case and our thoughts are with the little boy’s family.
‘We can confirm that he was looked after by the Local Authority and at the time of his death was placed with adoptive parents.
‘The county council, as part of the Cumbria Safeguarding Children Partnership, has recommended that a full independent safeguarding review is carried out.
‘A police investigation is also ongoing, and so we are unable to make any further comment at this stage.’
The county council has since recommended to the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel that an independent investigation should be launched – previously called a Serious Case Review.
Police received a report from North West Ambulance Service on January 6 this year regarding the incident at a property in Cumbria. Pictured: Cumbria County Council
Detective Chief Superintendent Dean Holden, Head of Crime and Safeguarding at Cumbria Constabulary, said: ‘Two people have been arrested as part of an ongoing investigation into the tragic death of a one-year-old boy in Barrow.
‘On 6th January, police received a report from NWAS regarding an incident at a property in Barrow.
‘The child was transferred to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital from Furness General Hospital for specialist medical care due to his critical condition.
‘Sadly, the young boy passed away on the afternoon of the 7th January.
‘An investigation is underway by a dedicated team of detectives and other specialists in order to establish the full circumstances of the death in full consultation with the Coroner.
‘A 37-year-old woman and a 34-year-old man, both from Barrow, have been arrested on suspicion of murder, causing and allowing the death of a child, two counts of assault/ill treatment/neglect/abandon a child/young person to cause unnecessary injury.
‘Both have since been released on police bail, whilst detectives investigate the full circumstances.’