Mother charged with child cruelty remanded on bail

A mother of three has appeared in court charged with neglect and cruelty to her children, including two babies.

The woman (31) is alleged to have left the three siblings - aged one, two and 11 - alone in the house which was in a state of disrepair, on August 9th, 2013.

The State will allege that gardai called to the woman’s home in Limerick City on the day in question where the three children were left alone without adult supervision.

Upon arrival at the house gardai did not get an answer, and some time later the mother returned but refused Gardai to enter the house, the State alleges.

Garda Ciaran MacCarthy from Mayorstone Garda station, entered the house under Section 12 of the Childcare Act, 2001, and allegedly observed the three children at the top of a stairway.

Due to the alleged conditions and scenario in the house the children were brought into State care and the mother was arrested and detained at Henry Street Garda station.

The accused, who is single and unemployed, first appeared in court on June 6th, and was remanded on bail.

The children are currently being cared for by the woman’s parents.

She is charged with one count of being a person in the care of three children, who did wilfully; neglect in a manner likely to cause unnecessary suffering/injury to the children’s health or seriously affect their well being, contrary to Section 246 (1) and (2) of the Childcare Act, 2001.

Today, Judge Eugene O’Kelly accepted jurisdiction in hearing the matter at Limerick District Court.

He remanded the woman on continuing bail to appear before the district court again on September 26th.