A ‘HEARTBREAKING’ new report which highlights the harrowing ordeal faced by dozens of grieving parents - backed by a Barnsley mum who lost her two sons in a house fire started by their abusive father - must be the final jigsaw piece in a law change, according to an MP.

In Parliament, Marie Tidball, who represents Penistone and Stocksbridge, highlighted the Women’s Aid study.

The report reveals that a total of 67 children have been killed over the past 30 years by a known domestically abusive parent, in circumstances related to courts’ use of the presumption of contact.

During her question, Marie told the government that ‘two of those children, Jack and Paul Sykes, are the sons of my formidable constituent, Claire Throssell - all these deaths were preventable’.

Claire’s campaign has highlighted the horrific murders of Jack and Paul Sykes, from Penistone, when their dad Paul set fire to their house during a court-granted, unsupervised access visit in 2014.

Sykes had a known history of domestic abuse, including making statements that he was capable of killing.

‘Presumption of contact’ - which is a legal principle which allows parents who have a known history of domestic abuse to have unsupervised contact with their children - is what should be scrapped, according to both Claire and Marie.

The local MP asked ministers to update on the progress of the government’s ongoing review into the presumption of contact.

In response to Ms Tidball’s question, Sarah Sackman KC MP, Minister for Justice, said: “The killings of Jack and Paul were horrendous crimes and I would like to pay tribute to Marie and to her constituent, Claire, for their tireless campaigning on these issues.

“I am sure that she would agree that the guiding principle for any reform must be children’s welfare.

“That is why we have requested a review of the presumption of contact. We will be publishing findings and next steps very shortly.”

Marie described the report as ‘heartbreaking’ and that every death documented was avoidable.

“Women’s Aid’s heartbreaking report makes clear the urgent need for reform to the family courts, to repeal the archaic presumption of contact, and to centre children’s voices in child contact cases,” she added.

“They have made it clear that this pro-contact culture in the family courts is costing children’s lives - every single death in this report was avoidable.

“I am honoured to work with Claire to repeal the presumption of contact.

“It was reassuring to hear the government confirm that they will be publishing the findings of their review into presumption very soon.

“Claire’s sons, Jack and Paul, were never heard by the family courts.

“Their mum promised her sons that no more children would die in the same circumstances - I will not stop until Claire fulfils her promise.”

Claire has been tirelessly campaigning to end the presumption of contact rule.

Whilst in the family courts, she repeatedly warned that their father had a history of domestic abuse and was a danger to the children’s lives.

However, presumption of contact meant he was granted five hours unsupervised contact per week with the boys.

Claire - who recently handed in a 105,000-strong petition to Downing Street urging the government to put an end to avoidable child deaths - called on ministers to prioritise the safety of children by ending unsafe child contact with perpetrators of domestic abuse.

“This government must now act to save the lives of children for generations to come by ending contact at any cost,” she added.

“For far too long children’s voices have been lost in the family courts and for far too long survivors of domestic abuse and their children are made to feel invisible.

“I thank Marie for continually asking the difficult questions of government.

“With Women’s Aid new report published that has established the tragic fact that nineteen more children have been murdered through formal and informal contact over the last nine years it is disappointing that yet again the government have failed to reveal when they will announce their findings regarding their review of presumption within the family courts.

“In 2014 Jack and Paul were child 18 and child 19 on Women’s Aids child homicides report.

“It’s heartbreaking that in 2025 there have been 67 children in total who have lost their lives due to unsafe contact with a abusive parent.

“All of these deaths could and should have been prevented.

“For 30 years family courts and civil courts have failed to keep children at risk of harm safe and protected - they must not be allowed to fail them for 30 more.”