Clare woman faces trial for wilfully ill-treating and neglecting three children at her home

A Clare woman has appeared in court accused of wilfully ill-treating and neglecting three children in her custody over a six-year period.

The 39-year-old appeared before Kilrush District Court to face seven charges relating to offences which are alleged to have occurred at her family home on dates between April 2016 and June 2022.

In the case, the woman faces five separate charges in relation to one girl including four separate assault charges. 

She is charged with having a child in her custody and did wilfully ill-treat and neglect the girl in a manner likely to cause unnecessary suffering and injury to the girl's health and seriously affect her well on dates between December 1, 2021 and June 13, 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 1, 2022 and June 10, 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 1, 2020 and July 31, 2021 at the family home contrary to Section 246 of the Children’s Act.

The defendant faces a further assault charge relating to the girl. That offence is alleged to have occurred at the family home on a date between April 17, 2020 and August 31, 2020.

The fourth assault charge relates to the same girl and that offence is alleged to have occurred on a date between April 17, 2016 and December 31, 2017.

Clare man goes on trial for murdering his elderly uncle

Thomas Lorigan pleads not guilty to the murder of John O'Neill in Lisdoonvarna

In relation to a boy, the woman is charged with ill-treating and neglecting him in a manner likely to cause unnecessary suffering/injury to his health, at the family home, on dates between December 1, 2021 and June 13, 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 unnecessary suffering/injury to her health at the family home on dates between December 1, 2021 and June 13, 2022 contrary to Section 246 of the Children’s Act.

In evidence of arrest, charge and caution, Garda Tracy Stanley told the court that the woman, in response to a neglect and ill-treat charge of the main alleged injured party, replied “I am confused about it”.

The woman did not make replies to the other charges after caution. Garda Stanley said that the cases are to go forward on indictment to the circuit court.

He said the Book of Evidence in the case should be ready and completed by March and that there was no objection to bail.

The woman is represented by solicitor Daragh Hassett and Judge Alec Gabbett granted legal aid in the case.

Judge Gabbett remanded the woman on bail to appear before Ennis District Court on February 14, next.