Courts / Dublin / Report
Mother jailed for cruelty after court hears child ate fish food due to hunger
Summary
Judge Patrick McCartan sentenced the mother to two years' imprisonment after hearing a moving account of her child's cruelty. The mother, who pleaded guilty to child cruelty between 10 October and 13 December 2012, was found to have neglected her daughter for four days while intoxicated. The child, who was left alone, recalled eating fish food because she was hungry and described her mother as unpredictable and frightening. She was lonely, with only a dog for company, and later engaged in self‑harm. The court heard that the child had severe lice, scabbing, and a poor physical condition, and that she had been absent from school for two weeks without explanation. The mother denied leaving the child alone, but evidence of alcohol, dirty dishes, and a broken vodka bottle was presented. The sentence reflects the mid‑range offence of utter neglect of a young child's needs.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Mother jailed for cruelty after court hears child ate fish food due to hunger. Charges or matters: child cruelty between October 10 2012 and December 13 2012. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- October 10 2012 Incident
- December 13 2012 Incident
- December 12, 2012 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2016-08-02 Publication
Why: " In a victim impact report, the girl said she recalled once eating fish food because she was hungry. CNI source report
Case subjects
Accused
Charges: child cruelty between October 10 2012 and December 13 2012 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Judge Patrick McCartan jailed the victim's mother for two years after he heard her alcohol addiction led to her neglecting her daughter, including leaving her at home alone for four days.
Places mentioned
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal court
Topics
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