9°c A few clouds
19°c Sunny
Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Longtime friend of Phoenix's father on stand at Sinclair inquiry
Kim Edwards takes the stand today at the Phoenix Sinclair Inquiry at the Convention Centre. She is seen here with her lawyer Jeffrey J. Gindin. (BORIS MINKEVICH / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS) Photo Store
Related Items
Debbie DeGale (second from left) walks out of the Sinclair hearing Monday evening after stating her reports were changed by her superiors. (PHIL HOSSACK / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS) Photo Store
CFS worker in Phoenix case 'isolated and avoided' at work
THE social worker who testified that documents in the Phoenix Sinclair file were altered is facing repercussions at work, an inquiry was told Tuesday.
When asked what it has been like for her at Winnipeg Child and Family Services lately, Debbie DeGale started to cry.
"I've had a feeling of being isolated and avoided," said DeGale, who still works for CFS as a prior-check contact worker.
On Monday, the former crisis-response unit worker testified that documents she prepared in May 2004 were altered and information was missing from the file on Phoenix Sinclair.
The girl was slain by her mother and mother's boyfriend in 2005 when she was five years old.
DeGale said the response time on her safety assessment of Phoenix was changed to 48 hours from 24 hours and initialled by her supervisor, Diana Verrier.
On Tuesday, Verrier denied altering or removing anything from the social worker's report.
"It would be unethical to remove anything from a report," Verrier testified from Calgary in a video link to the public hearing.
Verrier, who no longer works in child welfare, has no recollection of the case.
After reviewing the file before testifying and seeing only concerns about "neglect" and "substance abuse" listed, Verrier said a 48-hour response would have been more "reasonable" than a 24-hour response.
Verrier said she was likely correcting an error DeGale had made in requesting a check on Phoenix within 24 hours. "It looks to me like a mistake that was corrected," said Verrier.
DeGale testified earlier she deliberately requested a 24-hour response because she believed Phoenix was in a "high-risk" situation.
"I don't know that I agree it was high-risk," said Verrier. "There certainly were risks."
DeGale testified Monday that in May 2004 -- a year before Phoenix was slain -- she received two troubling calls on the same day about Phoenix. A welfare worker called to share concerns about Phoenix's whereabouts and worried she was at risk with either parent. A woman claiming to be an aunt called with similar concerns, saying Phoenix was being mistreated.
DeGale said notes she would have taken didn't get included in the file. She said she didn't learn about the changes made to her work until reviewing it after the inquiry was ordered in 2011.
Verrier is expected to continue her testimony Thursday.
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition December 12, 2012 A9
History
Updated on Wednesday, December 12, 2012 at 10:15 AM CST: changes headline, adds cover it live
11:49 AM: adds photo
More Latest News
- Back to Top
- Return to Latest News
More Latest News
(1 of 50 articles for today)
Duffy expense controversy sent back to closed-door Senate committee
10:02 PM 0
Poll
Most Popular Latest News
- 87-year-old woman tells jurors, 'Somebody had to stand up to' Donald Trump
- Man dies after being pulled from vehicle submerged in Winnipeg retention pond
- Rainfall warning issued for southern Manitoba
- A new mom's booze-fuelled hell
- Apple trick on Ellen falls short for city woman
- Male facing charges after gun fired in Exchange District
- Justin Bieber's pet monkey becomes property of Germany after singer misses deadline
- Gay Archie character to kiss partner in Pop Tate's
- Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris evacuated after suicide inside the landmark church
- Power restored to Linden Woods after goose collides with lines
- Seattle man dribbling soccer ball to Brazil killed by car on Oregon Coast
- 87-year-old woman tells jurors, 'Somebody had to stand up to' Donald Trump
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- Woman killed in head-on crash in southwestern Manitoba
- Horrific crash kills minivan driver near Brandon
- Charleswood deaths being investigated as domestic incident
- Man dies after being pulled from vehicle submerged in Winnipeg retention pond
- Rainfall warning issued for southern Manitoba
- Crushing blow for amateur sport
- US woman credits 'mother's instincts' in chase of 4-year-old daughter's abductor
- Seattle man dribbling soccer ball to Brazil killed by car on Oregon Coast
- 87-year-old woman tells jurors, 'Somebody had to stand up to' Donald Trump
- Driver crashes into tree near golf course
- Arrests made after raids on local head shops
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- News of city's $17-million winner leaks out on FB
- Passengers from diverted flight to leave Winnipeg Thursday night
- No threat from bag found at Winnipeg Square
- Susan Griffiths dies in Switzerland
- Woman killed in head-on crash in southwestern Manitoba
- Police make grow-op bust
- MP Bruinooge says Bill 18 could infringe on religious freedoms
- Bethania CEO put on leave during investigation
- Elijah Harper: The humble man who said no
- Two charged in golf course burglary
- Power restored to Linden Woods after goose collides with lines
- Man breaks world record by riding Ferris wheel at Chicago's Navy Pier for more than 48 hours
- Doc's memoir portrays ERs as frantic, funny, frightening ... but never dull
- WAG's 100 Masters exhibit drawing more than art aficionados
- Man dies after being pulled from vehicle submerged in Winnipeg retention pond
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- Marsh Madness: Photographers Fred Greenslade and Joe Bryksa capture spring migration's grandeur at Delta Marsh
- Prominent Canadians back petition to rename Victoria Day to honour aboriginals
- Horrific crash kills minivan driver near Brandon
- Province removing red tape in alcohol sales
- Animals are animals, new ads say
- Skin picking gets status as distinct disorder, should help sufferers access help
- Crushing blow for amateur sport
- Man charged, victims identified in double homicide
- Manitoba's changing spiritual landscape
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- Dogs can experience separation anxiety and depression just like humans
- Paul McCartney to play Winnipeg Aug. 12
- Ontario steps in to help save ELA
- Saskatchewan professor wants to test the health benefits of nose-picking
- 'Revenge of the redheads': Ginger-haired Montrealers gather in celebration
- An uncommon phenomenon
- Passengers from diverted flight to leave Winnipeg Thursday night
- Hundreds pitch in to dig out houses damaged, destroyed by Ochre Beach ice floe
- Retail sales in province see 2 per cent increase in February
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.