A FATHER of five accused of the abuse and neglect of his children has claimed he and his wife had a plan that he “would take the blame for everything” to avoid the children going into care.
The 42-year-old man said seeing his children give evidence via video-link was the first time he had seen them since they were taken into care in 2007. He said he did not know where his wife is.
Defence counsel Blaise O’Carroll asked him about the plan, and he replied: “I would take the blame for everything and she would get the children, but my wife went a little too far.”
Mr O’Carroll asked why they had this plan, and the accused said: “I did not think the children should go into care. At the time I did not. I thought she was a good mother.” He told Mr O’Carroll the only reason he could think of for his daughter alleging he had sexually abused her was that his wife had told her to say it.
The accused, who cannot be named, has pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court to the rape and sexual assault of his now 10-year-old daughter in September 2007, and the sexual assault of his now 13-year-old son between January and February 2007. He pleaded not guilty to the wilful assault of his three sons in a manner likely to cause unnecessary suffering or injury to the children’s health, or to seriously affect their wellbeing, on dates between January and September 2007.
He further denied the wilful neglect of all five children, now aged between 7 and 14 years, by failing to provide adequate clothing or food.
The accused, giving evidence on his own behalf, told Mr O’Carroll that due to them moving home at one point they had problems getting their children into a school, so his wife taught them at home.
Asked whether she had any qualifications, he replied: “She was very good at reading and writing.”
He said the older boys began to attend a local school around 2005 or 2006.
He told Mr O’Carroll he worked to get money for food and clothes while his wife cared for the children. Asked how he would describe her as a mother, he said “very poor”. He said his relationship with his wife had been “very good”. He said he loved her and “as far as I know” she loved him.
The trial continues before Ms Justice Elizabeth Dunne and a jury of five men and seven women.