Courts / Dublin / Report
Knife-wielding mother drenched infant son in boiling water
Summary
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 28 July 2022, a mother was found guilty of intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to her 18‑month‑old twin sons after she drenched one in boiling water and threatened to kill her children and herself. She also pleaded guilty to producing a large kitchen knife capable of inflicting serious injury, to unlawfully intimidating another person, and to falsely imprisoning a female social worker. The court heard that the social worker, who was supervising the boys in foster care, was locked out of the house and forced to hold the children to safety while the mother poured hot water over one son. The mother was admitted to psychiatric care in Tallaght Hospital and the boy was treated at Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children, where he sustained permanent scarring. The court noted that the mother had no prior convictions but had been detained under the Mental Health Act.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Knife-wielding mother drenched infant son in boiling water. Charges or matters: intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to one of the two children on the same date; producing an article capable of inflicting serious injury in the course of a dispute, to wit a "large kitchen knife", in a manner likely to unlawfully intimidate another person on the same occasion. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- October 9, 2019 Hearing Or Sentence
- October 9 Incident
- October 2018 Other
- December 2018 Other
- February 2019 Other
- October 6 Adjournment
- 2022-07-28 Publication
Case subjects
Accused
Charges: intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to one of the two children on the same date; producing an article capable of inflicting serious injury in the course of a dispute, to wit a "large kitchen knife", in a manner likely to unlawfully intimidate another person on the same occasion (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Mr Justice Keane remanded the woman in custody until October 6, when she will be sentenced.; Mr Justice Keane remanded the woman in custody until October 6, when she will be sentenced.
Places mentioned
- Central Criminal Court
- Tallaght
- Tallaght Hospital
- Our Lady's Hospital
Topics
Related court reports
- Pair jailed for preying on innocent shooting victim in 'vicious extortion racket'
- 'Fun loving' drug dealer jailed over possession of €90k in crime cash
- 'I'm doing my job as a mum': court hears exchange between mother and accused son
- Separated husband spared conviction despite alleged threat to throw former wife out window
- Serial criminal set car ablaze after release from Melanie McCarthy-McNamara manslaughter sentence
- Drug dealer further sentenced for 'crudely' laundering own crime cash
If a fact, identity, locality or legal outcome needs review, email the newsroom with this report's details prefilled.
Email a correction request