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A 41-year-old woman has received a two-and-a-half-year suspended sentence after pleading guilty to two counts of child cruelty. The Cork Circuit Criminal Court heard harrowing victim impact statements from her daughters, detailing years of neglect, exposure to drugs, violence, and emotional trauma.
One daughter recalled a near-fatal assault by her mother’s partner and described growing up in constant fear, malnourished, and missing school. The woman was labelled a “drug addict” by Judge Dermot Sheehan, who emphasised her failure to protect her children and prioritisation of drugs over parenting.#Ad
The situation came to light in 2023 when her older daughter reported her to emergency services, stating she was intoxicated and wielding a samurai sword. Despite the gravity of the abuse, the judge considered her lack of previous convictions, recent sobriety, and genuine remorse, choosing to suspend her sentence under strict conditions.
The daughters described their mother as a stranger who caused lasting emotional harm, with one stating, “You are not my mammy.”#Ad
The court acknowledged the long-lasting damage but also noted the woman’s engagement with rehabilitation. She will remain under Probation Service supervision for 12 months and must keep the peace.
