Brandon Muir

Yesterday The Herald reported three separate child protection inquiries after the conviction of Robert Cunningham who was found guilty of killing Brandon Muir at the end of a three week trial in the High Court in Glasgow. Brandon, aged 23 months when he died in March 2008, suffered 40 injuries causing part of his stomach to tear after it was pushed on to his spine.

His mother had been found to be coping by authorities and not considered at risk but Brandon died just 18 days after Robert Cunningham moved into the home with his mother in Dundee. Ms Boyd, the mother, was a heroin user who turned to prostitution to finance the couple's drug habit and social services were in discussion about moving to protect the child. Earlier in the trial charges had been dropped against Ms Boyd when Donald Findlay, QC, argued there was not enough evidence to prove she had been aware of Cunningham's attack.

Robert Cunningham was convicted of the culpable homicide will be sentenced later this month after background reports are completed.

Warning that 20,000 children in Scotland were living with drug addict parents Alex Salmond at First Minister's Questions in the Scottish Parliament said: "... the culpability, the guilt lies with person who perpetrated the crime. It doesn't lie with the social work department or the police. " See The Herald article Salmond warns 20,000 Scottish children living with addicts