Ireland Father's appeal against conviction for 'exorcism' beatings on daughter rejected by Supreme Court
A father and his wife beat his nine-year-old daughter between June 28 and July 2, 2019, in what the case describes as 'exorcism' beatings, and she was later left with a brain injury. The parents believed the girl was possessed by a devil or jinn, and she had arrived in Ireland the previous March to join the family, who are originally from North Africa. A 2021 jury found the father guilty of two counts of assault causing serious harm and three counts of child cruelty, and both parents were jailed for 14 years. The Court of Appeal upheld the conviction and reduced the father's sentence to 13 years. The Supreme Court most recently dismissed his second appeal against conviction and imprisonment, as reported on 24 July 2024.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Convicted24 Jul
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- A father and his wife took part in 'exorcism' beatings on their nine-year-old daughter.
- The girl was later left with a catastrophic brain injury.
- The girl was punched, choked, bitten and badly burned all over her body.
- Weapon
- The girl was also beaten with a belt and a stick.
- When
- The beatings took place between June 28 and July 2, 2019.
- The mother inflicted the brain injury on the girl on July 2, 2019.
- Cause
- The parents believed their daughter was possessed by a devil or jinn.
- Charges
- A 2021 jury found the father guilty of two counts of assault causing serious harm and three counts of child cruelty.
- The mother was also convicted of the same counts.
- In court
- The Court of Appeal upheld the conviction and rejected the argument that the father's actions were not joint enterprise.
- The Supreme Court dismissed the father's second appeal against conviction and imprisonment and found no reason to disturb the jury's verdict.
- Sentence
- Both parents were jailed for 14 years, and the Court of Appeal reduced the father's sentence to 13 years.
- Other details
- The girl and another sister arrived in Ireland the previous March to join the family, who are originally from North Africa.
12 statements extracted from the articles
- whatA father and his wife took part in 'exorcism' beatings on his nine-year-old daughter. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe daughter was later left with a catastrophic brain injury. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe girl was punched, beaten with a belt and a stick, choked, bitten and badly burned. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe beatings took place between June 28 and July 2, 2019. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe mother inflicted the brain injury on the girl on July 2, 2019. (irishtimes.com)
- causeThe parents believed their daughter was possessed by a devil or jinn. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeA 2021 jury verdict found the father guilty of two counts of assault causing serious harm and three counts of child cruelty. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe Court of Appeal rejected the argument that the father's actions were not joint enterprise. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe Supreme Court dismissed the father's appeal and found no reason to disturb the jury's verdict. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe father and mother were both jailed for 14 years. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe Court of Appeal reduced the father's sentence to 13 years. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe girl and another sister had arrived in Ireland the previous March to join the family, who are originally from North Africa. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 24 Jul2024Father’s appeal against conviction for ‘exorcism’ beatings on child rejected by Supreme Court
Supreme Court dismissed the father's second appeal against conviction and imprisonment. The Court of Appeal had earlier reduced his 14-year sentence to 13 years and rejected his joint enterprise argument.
convicted, male, non-irish (judged from name)convicted, female, non-irish (judged from name)victim, 9, female, non-irish (judged from name)