Courts / Waterford / Report
60 charges withdrawn against parents in abuse trial
Summary
At the trial of a Waterford father and mother accused of sexually abusing their son, 60 of the original 82 charges were withdrawn, leaving 22 counts. The father now faces nine counts of raping the boy, nine counts of raping the boy with a poker, and one count of cruelty. The mother faces two counts of sexual assault and one count of cruelty. Both parents have pleaded not guilty to the allegations, which are alleged to have occurred between 2007 and 2011 in their Waterford home when the child was six. Mr Justice Robert Eagar stated the withdrawals resulted from legal issues and should not be viewed as a judgment on the veracity of the claims. Prosecuting counsel Pauline Walley SC delivered her closing speech, urging the jury to evaluate the evidence objectively despite the child's inconsistent testimony. She argued that the boy's detailed accounts and subsequent behavioral issues in care supported his credibility. The trial is in its final stages, with defence counsel scheduled to close their case tomorrow before the judge instructs the jury on the relevant legal issues.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: 60 charges withdrawn against parents in abuse trial. Charges or matters: the allegations which are alleged to have occurred between 2007 and 2011 in their Waterford home from when the child was six years old; raping the boy; raping the boy with a poker; cruelty. Procedural stage: trial
When:
- 2007 and 2011 Incident
- 2016-05-16 Publication
Why: " Counsel said after being removed from the family home the child stayed with two foster families before being put into specialised residential care in the UK because of his "terrifying" and "shocking" behaviour which included making sexual threats to his foster mother, interfering with animals and an obsession with faeces. CNI source report
Case subjects
Accused
Charges: the allegations which are alleged to have occurred between 2007 and 2011 in their Waterford home from when the child was six years old (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Accused
Charges: raping the boy; raping the boy with a poker; cruelty (Alleged Or Contested)
Places mentioned
Topics
Sexual Offences Stage Trial Violent Crime
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