*Photograph: John Mangan
A 39-year old Clare woman was sent forward for trial charged in connection with wilfully ill-treating and neglecting three children in her custody in charges spanning a six year period.
At Ennis District Court, the woman appeared in connection with seven charges in relation to the neglect and ill-treatment of the children at the woman’s family home on dates ranges starting from April 2016 to June 2022.
In the case, the woman faces five separate charges in relation to one girl including four separate assault charges.
The Book of Evidence was served in the case.
Solicitor for the woman, Daragh Hassett asked Judge Alec Gabbett that due to the seriousness of the charges that the legal aid certificate be extended to cover a Senior Counsel in the case.
Mr Hassett has already obtained legal aid for his client for a Junior Counsel barrister for the case and Judge Gabbett granted the application for the second barrister and sent the woman for trial to the next sittings of Ennis Circuit Court.
In the case, the woman is charged with having a child in her custody and did wilfully ill-treat and neglect the girl in a manner likely to cause un-necessary suffering and injury to the girl’s health and seriously affect her well on dates between December 1st 2021 to June 13th 2022.
The charge is contrary to Section 246 of the Children’s Act.
The woman is also charged with wilfully assaulting the same girl on a date unknown between May 1st 2022 and June 10th 2022 contrary to Section 246 of the Children’s Act at the family home.
The woman is also charged with assaulting the girl between June 1st 2020 and July 31st 2021 at the family home contrary to Section 246 of the Children’s Act.
The woman faces a further assault charge against the girl at the family home on a date between April 17th 2020 and August 31st 2020.
The woman faces a fourth assault charge against the same girl at the family home on a date between April 17th 2016 and December 31st 2017.
In relation to a boy, the woman is charged with ill-treating and neglecting the boy in a manner likely to cause un-necessary suffering/injury to the child’s health at the family home on dates from December 1st 2021 to June 13th 2022 contrary to Section 246 of the Children’s Act.
The woman is also charged with ill-treating and neglecting a second girl in a manner likely to cause un-necessary suffering/injury to the child’s health at the family home on dates from December 1st 2021 to June 13th 2022 contrary to Section 246 of the Children’s Act.
