Courts / Dublin / Report
Couple avoid jail term for wilful neglect
Summary
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, a 36‑year‑old mother and her 38‑year‑old partner were found guilty of wilful neglect after failing to obtain medical care for their 14‑month‑old daughter, who suffered extensive bruising at a derelict house. The mother claimed the baby had fallen from a mattress, but doctors determined the injuries were non‑accidental. The couple had previously taken the children from their grandmother's home, where they were cared for, to the derelict property. The judge noted the couple's chaotic lifestyle, homelessness and addiction issues, and that they had tried to conceal the injuries. Both were sentenced to suspended terms: the partner received a two‑year sentence suspended in full, and the mother a three‑year sentence suspended in full. The child remains in care, and the parents are now drug‑free and living in permanent accommodation. The case was reported under restrictions to protect the child's identity. The unnamed girl pleaded not guilty.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Couple avoid jail term for wilful neglect. Charges or matters: wilful neglect and allowing her child to be harmed at a derelict house on dates between January 25 and 27, 2016; wilful assault, wilful neglect, and assaulting the child causing her harm on the same occasion. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- January 2016 Other
- January 25 Incident
- 2021-11-08 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: wilful neglect and allowing her child to be harmed at a derelict house on dates between January 25 and 27, 2016; wilful assault, wilful neglect, and assaulting the child causing her harm on the same occasion (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Outcome: Judge Baxter sentenced the woman's partner to two years imprisonment, which she suspended in full on a number of conditions. She sentenced the mother to three years imprisonment, which she also suspended in full. "She was the mother of this little infant, who was reliant on her for everything," the judge said.
Places mentioned
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
Topics
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