The quiet community of Garden City in Flintshire has been left reeling after the harrowing details of the murder of two-year-old Ethan Ives-Griffiths came to light, culminating in the sentencing of his grandparents and mother at Mold Crown Court. On October 3, 2025, Michael Ives, 48, and Kerry Ives, 46, were handed life sentences for the murder of their grandson, while Ethan’s mother, Shannon Ives, 28, was sentenced to 12 years for allowing his death. The case has sparked a wave of public horror and prompted a review of child safeguarding procedures across Wales.
According to BBC News, Ethan died on August 16, 2021, after suffering a catastrophic head injury at his grandparents’ home. The trial, which lasted six weeks, revealed a disturbing pattern of escalating abuse and neglect in the weeks leading up to Ethan’s death. The judge, Mr Justice Griffiths, described the actions of Michael and Kerry Ives as a "campaign to break" the little boy, noting, "Ethan was a two-year-old with an independent spirit. He was brave and resilient with a strong character. The people hitting him didn’t like the little boy standing up for himself."
The court heard that Ethan, once a healthy and chubby child, had become severely underweight and dehydrated by the time of his death. Prosecutor Caroline Rees told the court that Ethan was "being beaten, he was being starved, and he was being deprived of fluids." Medical evidence showed he had sustained numerous previous injuries, and CCTV footage from the home captured scenes of cruelty and humiliation. In one particularly distressing clip, Michael Ives was seen dragging Ethan by one arm, treating him "like a rag doll" and a "bag of rubbish," as described by BBC News and ITV.
On August 14, just days before his death, Ethan suffered the fatal blow while his mother was upstairs on the phone. The judge determined that Michael Ives delivered the blow, with Kerry Ives sitting beside him, smiling during the act. Instead of immediately seeking help, Kerry delayed calling for an ambulance for 18 minutes, first making a FaceTime call to one of her daughters. The previous day, Ethan had already lost consciousness in the living room, but the family failed to seek medical attention—a decision described by a medical expert as "callous and a gross dereliction of responsibility," according to North Wales Police.
When Ethan was finally admitted to hospital, doctors found him dangerously thin, dirty, and suffering from a litany of injuries: bruising to his face, abdominal trauma consistent with forceful blows, abrasions to his spine, a cut lip, a torn frenulum, a chipped tooth, and even an older brain bleed. The force that caused his fatal injury was likened by experts to a high-speed car crash or a fall from a tall building, as noted in the official police statement.
During sentencing, Mr Justice Griffiths addressed the three defendants directly. He told Shannon Ives, "Shannon knew Ethan was not safe with her parents," referencing her own experiences of abuse growing up. The judge also made clear that while Michael Ives was responsible for the worst violence, Kerry Ives was complicit, having also been seen hitting the child and failing to intervene. Both grandparents were found guilty of murder and child cruelty, while Shannon Ives was convicted of allowing Ethan’s death and child cruelty. Their sentences for child cruelty—nine years for Michael, six for Kerry, and five for Shannon—will run concurrently with their main terms.
Ethan’s father, William Griffiths, delivered a moving victim impact statement in court. Fighting back tears, he said, "What happened to Ethan has changed everything in my life. At times I don’t feel like it’s real that Ethan is no longer with us and I often find myself thinking I can hear his affectionate laugh, and it reminds me what a beautiful son he was and how lucky I was to be his dad." He added, "Ethan will never be forgotten and will always live on in our hearts... The cherished memories that I do have now give me comfort rather than pain and grief."
North Wales Police’s Major Investigation Team led a meticulous inquiry, reviewing hundreds of hours of CCTV footage and interviewing numerous witnesses and medical experts. Detective Superintendent Chris Bell remarked, "Today’s sentences reflect the wicked behaviour Ethan was subjected to before his brutal murder in August 2021. Ethan, a beautiful little boy with his whole life ahead of him, had it stolen by his grandparents, while his mother did nothing to stop it." He continued, "It is impossible to imagine the terror a two-year-old would feel in suffering the punishments and horrific injuries he endured. Not one of them have ever taken responsibility for their actions."
Detective Constable Lee Harshey-Jones echoed the sentiment, stating, "His life was taken from him by his own family, before it had even started. Ethan went from being what appeared to be a healthy, happy and vibrant little boy to a weak, vulnerable and abused child. His injuries were so devastatingly serious that he never had any chance of surviving them." The investigation, he said, was driven by a single goal: justice for Ethan.
Outside the courtroom, Nicola Rees of the Crown Prosecution Service described the case as "one of the most shocking I have dealt with as a prosecutor," highlighting the "harrowing" CCTV evidence and the level of cruelty involved. The North Wales Safeguarding Board, expressing condolences to Ethan’s family, confirmed that a Child Practice Review would proceed, aiming to learn lessons and improve safeguarding procedures. The Welsh government also announced a review of safeguarding arrangements to ensure systems remain effective and focused on protecting vulnerable children.
In mitigation, defense barristers acknowledged the complex backgrounds of the defendants. Owen Edwards, representing Kerry Ives, argued her role was "secondary," though he admitted there were "no excuses for her acts of failure." Michael Ives’ counsel, David Elias, suggested his client’s mental health struggles might have played a part, while Gordon Cole, for Shannon Ives, described her as someone with cognitive difficulties and mental health challenges.
The sentencing marks a grim conclusion to a case that has shaken not only the local community but also those tasked with protecting children nationwide. As the Child Practice Review moves forward and the Welsh government scrutinizes existing safeguards, Ethan’s memory stands as a stark reminder of the importance of vigilance, compassion, and accountability in child welfare.
For Ethan’s family, the pain remains, but as his father poignantly put it, "His memory will always be a blessing to know that he was loved by us and will never be forgotten. He will continue to live on in me forever."
