Courts / Dublin / Report

Tusla asked for regular checks on girl at centre of first FGM case, appeal hears

Summary

The Court of Appeal heard that Tusla requested regular examinations of the infant girl at the centre of Ireland's first recorded conviction for female genital mutilation (FGM). Dr Sinead Harty, a consultant paediatrician, testified that she was asked by Tusla to perform follow-up examinations after the child was admitted to hospital in September 2016 with bleeding, due to concerns she had been a victim of FGM and could be subjected to the practice again. The girl's 39-year-old father and 29-year-old mother were later jailed for five-and-a-half years and four years and nine months respectively following a trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in November 2019. Both pleaded not guilty to one count of carrying out an act of FGM on the then one-year-old girl at an address in Dublin on September 16, 2016, and one count of child cruelty on the same day. The couple, who moved to this country from Africa and cannot be identified to protect the identity of their daughter, have lodged an appeal against their convictions and sentences. The State has submitted that their sentences were too lenient. The hearing continues.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Tusla asked for regular checks on girl at centre of first FGM case, appeal hears. Charges or matters: one count of carrying out an act of FGM on the 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 2016 Hearing Or Sentence
• November 2019 Hearing Or Sentence
• September 16, 2016 Hearing Or Sentence
• 2021-10-08 Publication

Why: Dr Sinead Harty, a consultant paediatrician, told the Court of Appeal that she was asked by Tusla to perform follow-up examinations after the child was admitted to hospital in September 2016 with bleeding because there were concerns she had been a victim of FGM and would be subjected to the practice again. CNI source report

Case subjects

Places mentioned

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Stage Appeal

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Read the original CNI report