Tragic tot ‘overwhelmed to loss of life by grandparents’ whereas mum was upstairs on her cellphone

Ethan Ives-Griffiths died from ‘catastrophic’ head injuries after he was allegedly beaten to death by his grandparents Michael Ives, 47, and Kerry Ives, 46, in North Wales

A toddler was reportedly battered to death by his grandparents while his mum was upstairs engrossed in her mobile. Michael Ives, 47, and Kerry Ives, 46, from Garden City, Flintshire, stand accused of murder, causing or allowing the death of a child, and child cruelty following the tragic death of their grandson Ethan Ives-Griffiths.

The tot suffered “catastrophic” head injuries at their North Wales home. Ethan’s mother, Shannon Ives, 28, of Mold, faces charges of causing or allowing the death of a child and child cruelty. All three have pleaded not guilty.

The pair allegedly pointed the finger at their own daughter and maintained a “silence” pact after the boy’s death, Mold Crown Court was told. However, it was revealed that Ethan’s mother was upstairs on her phone when the fatal injuries occurred.

The prosecution concurred that she wasn’t behind the savage attack in August 2021.

During the murder trial on June 9, the court learned that the two-year-old had been added to the child protection register just a month prior to his death. It was disclosed that social workers had instructed his mother that he needed to be seen every 10 days.

He was put on the register on July 6.

Ethan Ives-Griffiths was found “severely underweight and covered in bruises” at the family home on August 16. Caroline Rees KC previously stated: “The prosecution say Ethan’s time at the first and second defendants’ home was thoroughly miserable and he was targeted by the defendants as an object of abuse and neglect.”

She added: “He was quiet and withdrawn, small and painfully thin.”

She described the toddler’s life as one marred by “casual brutality” and, as per a medical expert’s testimony, he would have endured “distress, pain and misery in the days and weeks prior to his death”.

Ms Rees stated: “The prosecution say what must have been a forceful attack on Ethan that night was the culmination of physical and emotional neglect and abuse upon him by those who should have cared for him the most.”

Michael and Kerry Ives, the grandparents, initially told police that their grandson had suddenly collapsed. Ms Rees contended: “The prosecution say these two defendants entered a pact of silence as to what they did to Ethan that night, immediately working together as a team of two to conceal the truth about the reason for his fatal collapse.”

Ms Rees pointed out that Shannon Ives knew her parents “represented a significant risk of physical harm” to her child but failed to intervene. In her statement, she admitted to being frightened of her parents and aware of their abusive behaviour, according to what was relayed in court.

Ms Rees disclosed: “She had seen them shaking Ethan in anger on many occasions. She said she was petrified of her father in particular.”

The court also learned that Kerry Ives hesitated for nearly 20 minutes before calling emergency services at 9.21pm following Ethan’s collapse. After being rushed to the Countess of Chester Hospital and subsequently moved to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital for brain surgery, Ethan was declared deceased at 6pm on August 16.

The trial is ongoing.