A devastated mum, whose young lads were horrifically killed by their abusive dad during a scheduled visitation approved by the court, is rallying for change in the “pro-contact” stance within the legal system. Gripped by tragedy, Claire Throssell is launching an urgent appeal to Labour leader Keir Starmer, urging a comprehensive overhaul of the family justice setup, as alarming figures from a Women’s Aid release disclose that since her children’s appalling deaths, 19 further child fatalities in England and Wales have transpired at the hands of parents recognised as domestic abusers but nevertheless granted custody. Entitled Nineteen More Child Homicides, this chilling report reveals victims ranged from a mere three-week-old baby to an 11 year old, with virtually all cases involving male perpetrators and 15 fathers committing the unthinkable against their own offspring. Read more Mystery over missing wife’s body after husband pretended she was alive for years Back in October 2014, Claire was thrown into a nightmarish reality when her sons Jack, aged 12, and Paul, just 9, were lured by their monstrous father, Darren Sykes, to the attic with the promise of new toys, only to perish in the inferno he ignited within their home. Now at 53 years old, Penistone-based Claire remains staunch in her stance: “The government hasn’t learnt anything since my sons were murdered. “Children are dying and they are doing nothing to stop it.”, reports the Mirror . Joining forces with Women’s Aid, Claire is mounting pressure on the powers that be to put under scrutiny and mend the failing family court system which, per the charity’s findings following over three decades, has seen 67 children lose lives at the hands of domestic abuse perpetrators. Mum Claire has recounted the horrific event when her two boys were killed by their father, despite her warnings to Cafcass (Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service) and Social Services about his dangerous nature. She claimed: “In my court application I clearly stated he was capable of killing Jack and Paul. He had been repeatedly violent towards me and abusive to the boys. “Even in the Family Court he was shouting at me and couldn’t contain his temper, but still the judge gave him access to my beautiful sons, and now they are dead.” According to Claire, her intuition and the fears of her sons, Jack and Paul, were tragically ignored: “I knew the boys weren’t safe with him and the hardest part is Jack and Paul knew that too. “They didn’t like going to visit their dad. They knew how angry he could get and would beg me not to make them go, but there was a court order in place stating they had to see their dad twice a week.” The horror unfolded on 22 October 2014 during one of these ordered visits, when Claire’s ex-husband set fire to the family home after cancelling the insurance. The arson attack led to the death of her ex-husband and both children. Jack’s final moments bore witness to the tragedy, as Claire recalls his last heart-wrenching words: “The last words Jack said, as the firefighters desperately tried to rescue him, was ‘my dad did this and he did it on purpose’.” Paul passed away on the night of the fire with his father, while Jack succumbed five days later due to extensive burns and subsequent medical complications. The devastating events have galvanised Claire into championing reform in family law, determined that no other family should endure a similar fate. Determined to eradicate domestic abuse, she’s anxiously awaiting a reply to her requested sit-down with Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood. She remarked: “The pro-contact culture means dangerous and violent individuals are being given access to children. “There is a systematic problem in family courts that needs addressing. “How many more children have to be killed before the government stands up and listens?”. “I vowed after my sons died that I would do everything I could to stop another child being killed at the hands of an abusive parent, but I am fighting one government after another, who aren’t listening.” In 2016, Claire initiated a petition against the presumption of contact as part of her Child First campaign, which, after exceeding 100,000 supporters, was taken to Parliament for discussion. She continued: “I can never bring my sons back, but I won’t stop campaigning until the government stands up and does something meaningful to protect children.” Earlier this year, Labour MP Marie Tidball brought forward a debate advocating for legal reforms to withdraw the presumption of contact in family courts. Claire, set to release her book ‘For My Boys’ in October, added: “I will not let Jack and Paul’s deaths be in vain. “There isn’t a single minute of a single day when I don’t think about my sons. Jack should now be 23 and Paul 20. “Their lives were cruelly taken far too early, and I was robbed of the memories and lives we should have shared together. “I implore Keir Starmer to think about this and prevent another parent going through the devastating pain and heartache I am forced to endure every second of my waking life. “Does the Labour government want its legacy to be that of one who ignored the safety of children or one that did something to save lives?”. “No one should suffer the pain that constantly rips me apart and no child should be put at risk of a terrifying and painful death.” Farar Nazeer, CEO of Women’s Aid, adds: “It is clear that within the family court system there remains inequality, injustice, fear and oppression. “All too often perpetrators are shielded by a system that does not prioritise the safety of adult and child survivors. “There also remains a disproportionate regard for the rights of the perpetrator in the family court system, often at the expense of the rights of the child.” When asked for a response, a government spokesperson said: “This was a horrendous crime and our thoughts are with Claire Throssell and her family. “While judges already have the power to restrict parental involvement in a child’s life, we are reviewing the presumption of parental involvement and will publish the findings and next steps shortly.” For My Boys by Claire Thressell will be published by Mirror Books on October 9th but can be preordered on Amazon .