Ireland Case No. 31061Child abuse; neglect of children
Six family members on trial over alleged abuse of three children
Six relatives of three children are on trial, accused of abusing the children between 2014 and 2016. All of the accused have denied the charges, and the trial continues before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court30 Jun
4 reports - Verdict
- Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports60 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThree men and three women are on trial for abusing three children between 2014 and 2016. (rte.ie)
- whatThe accused are the parents, aunts and uncles of the children, ranging in ages from 27 to 56. (rte.ie, limerickleader.ie)
- whatA junior infant teacher said the oldest boy did not appear to have any joy in his life. (rte.ie)
- whatThe teacher described the boy as obedient and a child who loved praise. (rte.ie)
- whatThe teacher said she felt the boy was not allowed to be a child at home. (rte.ie)
- whatThe school principal said the oldest child ran away from school in 2014 after being left in the school yard by his mother. (rte.ie)
- whatThe principal found the boy hunched with his head in his hands at the top of the stairs when she visited his home. (rte.ie)
- whatThe principal described the house conditions as horrific and chaotic with a strong disgusting odour. (rte.ie)
- whatThe carpet was heavily stained and there were patches of dirt and grime everywhere. (rte.ie)
- whatThe father took the boy by the hand, brought him downstairs, put him in the car and took him back to school with no affection shown. (rte.ie)
- whatThe principal observed no affection or worry from the father towards the boy. (rte.ie)
- whatThe mother said the boy just did not want to go to school when asked why he was upset. (rte.ie)
- whatThe mother claimed the boy had been bullied in school and that the school had done nothing about it. (rte.ie)
- whatA teacher said the second-eldest girl came to school with a cut lip and the father said she had fallen on the way to school. (rte.ie)
- whatThe father told the child with the cut lip that it would teach her not to do it again. (rte.ie)
- whatThe girl had vomit on her jacket for about a week or two weeks at school. (rte.ie)
- whatThe children regularly had dirty faces, hands and nails, stained uniforms and dirty and smelly lunchboxes. (rte.ie)
- whatMedical examinations on three children were normal 18 months after they went into care. (thejournal.ie, limerickleader.ie)
- whatThe doctor examined the three main complainants in September 2017. (thejournal.ie)
- whatThe children were accompanied by their foster parents during the examination. (thejournal.ie)
- whatA garda was present and gave the doctor an account of the allegations. (thejournal.ie)
- whatOn the eldest boy, the doctor noted significant dental caries and a scar on his back. (thejournal.ie)
- whatOn the girl, the doctor noted scars consistent with accidental injury and a scar on her foot. (thejournal.ie)
- whatOn the younger boy, the doctor noted scars from a burn on his arm and thigh. (thejournal.ie)
- whatStudies show the majority of relevant examinations would be normal in such cases. (thejournal.ie, limerickleader.ie)
- whatChildren heal very quickly, often within a two-week period. (thejournal.ie, limerickleader.ie)
- whatThe jury heard details of six garda interviews over two days. (thejournal.ie)
- whatThe accused are the parents, aunts and uncles of the children, aged 27 to 56, living in various locations in Munster. (thejournal.ie)
- whatAll of the accused have denied the charges against them. (thejournal.ie, irishtimes.com)
- whatA County Council Housing Services Officer gave evidence about monitoring letting agreements and managing breaches. (thejournal.ie)
- whatThe parents of the complainants were tenants of the council and the officer received complaints about their address. (thejournal.ie)
- whatThe officer recommended a neighbour keep a diary of the behaviour in the house. (thejournal.ie)
- whatThe diary was later given to the gardaí. (thejournal.ie)
- whatThe officer visited the parents' home and discussed excessive noise, general upkeep, and disposal of waste. (thejournal.ie)
- whatIn April 2016, specialist noise monitoring equipment was installed in the neighbour's house. (thejournal.ie)
- whatThe six family members are accused of abusing three children between 2014 and 2016 (limerickleader.ie)
- whatA clinical paediatrician working for the HSE examined the three main complainants in September 2017 (limerickleader.ie)
- whatOn the eldest boy, significant dental caries and a scar on his back were noted (limerickleader.ie)
- whatOn the girl, scars consistent with accidental injury and a scar on her foot were noted (limerickleader.ie)
- whatOn the younger boy, scars from a burn on his arm and thigh were noted (limerickleader.ie)
- whatThe aunt told gardaí she would not take photos of the nature alleged of children and called it sick (limerickleader.ie)
- whatThe aunt said the child's life is ruined (limerickleader.ie)
- whatThe aunt said she would clear her name (limerickleader.ie)
- whatA County Council Housing Services Officer gave evidence about complaints at the parents' address (limerickleader.ie)
- whatThe parents were tenants of the council and complaints were received about excessive noise, upkeep and waste disposal (limerickleader.ie)
- whatThe noise monitoring essentially proved there was excessive noise (limerickleader.ie)
- whatSix family members are accused of abusing three children. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe accused live in various locations in Munster. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe alleged abuse took place between 2014 and 2016. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationSix garda interviews over two days were conducted with the aunt (limerickleader.ie)
- investigationThe man was arrested in 2018 and interviewed by gardaí on six occasions. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeThe parents are also accused of neglecting five of their children. (rte.ie, thejournal.ie, limerickleader.ie, irishtimes.com)
- chargeThe 32-year-old aunt pleaded not guilty to charges of sexual exploitation and sexual assault. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeA 32-year-old aunt pleaded not guilty to sexual exploitation and sexual assault (limerickleader.ie)
- courtThe trial is taking place at Croke Park. (rte.ie)
- courtThe trial involves three men and three women (limerickleader.ie)
- courtThe trial continues the following week before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury. (irishtimes.com)
- otherAll of the accused have denied the charges. (rte.ie)
- otherAll accused have denied the charges (limerickleader.ie)
- otherThe man repeatedly denied all of the abuse allegations put to him. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 2 Jul2021Man accused of abusing niece and nephews tells gardaí he was sickened by allegations
Reports Garda interviews of one accused man, who was arrested in 2018, and the trial of six family members before a jury.
accused, 49, malevictimvictimvictim - 2 Jul2021Munster abuse trial jury hears 'relevant medical examinations normal'
Reports on a day of the ongoing trial where the jury heard HSE paediatrician evidence that examinations of the three children were normal 18 months after they went into care, garda interview evidence from a 32-year-old aunt who denied the allegations, and evidence from a County Council housing officer about noise complaints at the parents' address.
suspect, 32, femalesuspectsuspectsuspectsuspectsuspectvictimvictimvictim - 1 Jul2021Munster child abuse trial hears details of accused aunt's garda interviews
Reports on a day of the ongoing trial including clinical paediatrician evidence on the children's examinations, memos of six garda interviews with the 32-year-old aunt, and testimony from a County Council Housing Services Officer about noise complaints and a visit to the parents' home.
suspect, 32, femalesuspect, femalesuspect, femalesuspect, malesuspect, malesuspect, malevictim, malevictim, femalevictim, male - 30 Jun2021Trial hears boy did not appear to have any joy in life
Testimony from a junior infant teacher, the school principal, and other teachers describing the children's behaviour at school, the state of the family home, and interactions with the parents, including a report to Tusla.
suspect, malesuspect, malesuspect, malesuspect, femalesuspect, femalesuspect, femalevictim, malevictim, femalevictim, male