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Father to appeal conviction for genital mutilation of daughter
Summary
In a first‑ever Irish case of its kind, a 37‑year‑old father was sentenced to five‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment for the genital mutilation of his one‑year‑old daughter, with a concurrent three‑year child‑cruelty sentence. He pleaded not guilty to both charges. The father, originally from an African nation, is appealing his conviction and sentence. His solicitor applied to the Court of Appeal for a copy of the digital audio recording of the father's trial evidence, which the Court of Appeal granted. Judge Elma Sheehan noted that the offence carries a maximum sentence of 14 years and described the act as a severe, invasive procedure performed without medical justification. She emphasised the lack of remorse and the premeditated nature of the crime, and highlighted the impact on the child's future. The father's appeal is now pending.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Father to appeal conviction for genital mutilation of daughter. Charges or matters: one count of carrying out an act of FGM on a then one-year-old girl at an address in Dublin on September 16, 2016; one count of child cruelty on the same day. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- September 16, 2016 Other
- 2020-05-26 Publication
Why: She noted that prison "may be more difficult" for the accused because of the type of offending involved. CNI source report
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Charges: one count of carrying out an act of FGM on a then one-year-old girl at an address in Dublin on September 16, 2016; one count of child cruelty on the same day (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Outcome: A father jailed for the genital mutilation of his daughter in what was the first case of its kind in Ireland is to appeal his conviction and sentence. The 37-year-old was sentenced to five-and-a-half years imprisonment by Judge Elma Sheehan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court last January.
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