A 14-year-old boy committed suicide because of physical abuse by his stepfather, it was alleged in the High Court in Belfast yesterday.
Crown lawyer Mr David Hopley said the boy and his three brothers, who come from Armagh, were continually beaten with a belt and a rubber hose.
Mr Hopley said one of the boys told police that he believed the beatings led to his brother taking his own life last May.
"Police are investigating the circumstances of the boy's death and there may be further charges relating to that," said Mr Hopley
He was opposing an adjourned bail application by the boys' mother (38), and her partner (33), who have denied charges of child cruelty.
They cannot be named in order to avoid identifying the children.
Mr Hopley said it was also alleged that the children were not fed properly and that their mother was well aware of the physical abuse as she observed it taking place.
"It is further alleged that she would have encouraged the abuse by informing her partner that the children were misbehaving," said Mr Hopley.
He added that the children were now in care at various locations not known to the defendants.
A lawyer for the couple said the bail application had been adjourned to find a suitable address well away from Armagh and he handed into court an address which, he said, was as far away as possible.
Mr Justice Girvan released the couple on bail but ordered them to stay out of Armagh and not to contact the children.