HARTFORD, Conn. — Two managers for the Connecticut Department of Children and Families have been fired for failing to remove two young children from the home of a convicted child rapist.

Leslie Roy and Linda Lukin, who worked in the Willimantic regional office, were fired on Monday, The Hartford Courant reported (http://cour.at/1Xf5suN ).

DCF officials said that caseworkers didn't remove the 1-year-old and infant after learning of the Plainfield couple's background. The husband was convicted in the 1990s of raping a child and his wife was on the child-abuse registry for a previous DCF case.

DCF's human resources director said in the termination letter that Lukin and Roy didn't recognize the "serious risk" in the situation or take immediate steps to ensure the children's safety.

The children weren't harmed. A DCF official removed them from the home.

Roy had said during DCF's internal investigation that she consulted with department lawyers and clinical staff members about the case while the children were still with the couple, according to DCF records. Roy's lawyer said Tuesday that an in-house lawyer and specialist indicated they agreed that there was no risk to the children.

Her termination letter said that her decision to consult with counsel didn't alleviate her responsibility to "override the improper decisions made in this case."

Lukin's letter said that she went on vacation shortly after the case was assigned to her. But her lawyer said several DCF social workers, a psychologist and a lawyer were involved with the case.

The women's attorneys said their clients plan to appeal their termination before the state Employees Review Board.