Courts / Dublin / Report

Parents accused of FGM of daughter want child reexamined

Date
2021-03-22
Stage
Appeal
Primary locality
Dublin
County
Dublin

Summary

In March 2021, a husband and wife, jailed for subjecting their one‑year‑old daughter to female genital mutilation (FGM), sought a re‑examination of the child to determine whether the procedure had actually taken place. Their lawyers applied to the Court of Appeal for a "directions hearing" to order the examination. The State opposed the application. The court heard arguments on March 25. The case arose from disagreement among medical experts about the girl's injuries. The couple, aged 37 and 27, had pleaded not guilty to FGM and child cruelty charges. A jury had found them guilty on all counts after almost three hours of deliberation. In January 2020, Judge Elma Sheahan sentenced the man to five and a half years and the woman to four years and nine months in prison.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Parents accused of FGM of daughter want child reexamined. Charges or matters: one count of child cruelty on the same day. Procedural stage: appeal

When:

Why: At a brief hearing this morning president of the court Mr Justice George Birmingham said the issue arose because there is "some disagreement between medical experts" regarding what actually happened to the girl. CNI source report

Case subjects

Unnamed 37-year-old

Convicted Person

Charges: one count of child cruelty on the same day (Alleged Or Contested)

Plea: Not guilty

Outcome: A husband and wife who were jailed for subjecting their child to female genital mutilation (FGM) want the girl re-examined to assess whether the procedure actually happened. Passing sentence in January 2020 Judge Elma Sheahan sentenced the man to five and a half years imprisonment and the woman to four years and nine months imprisonment.

Places mentioned

Court Venue
  • Court of Appeal
  • Dublin
  • Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
Secondary Mention

Topics

Stage Appeal

Related court reports

Read the original CNI report

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