Courts / Dublin / Report

14 years for couple's 'wanton cruelty' of daughter which left her 'destroyed'

Summary

In March 2022, a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court sentenced a 39‑year‑old father and a 37‑year‑old mother to 14 years' imprisonment for the savage abuse of their nine‑year‑old daughter. The parents, originally from North Africa, claimed the child was possessed by an evil spirit, but the court found no defence. The girl was repeatedly punched, beaten with a belt and a stick, choked, bitten and burned, resulting in catastrophic brain injury that left her unable to walk, talk or sit independently. The couple were convicted of two counts of assault causing serious harm and three counts of child cruelty. They had been in custody since August 2019, and their children were taken into care. The judge described the conduct as "grossly reprehensible" and noted the child would remain dependent on carers for life. The sentence reflects the sustained, extreme nature of the abuse.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: 14 years for couple's 'wanton cruelty' of daughter which left her 'destroyed'. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• June 28 Incident
• July 2, 2019 Incident
• March 2019 Other
• August 2019 Hearing Or Sentence
• July 2 Hearing Or Sentence
• 2022-03-07 Publication

Why: He said this was "because my parents hit her". CNI source report

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Sentence Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report