Mother has ‘physically abused two small girls’

A JUDGE has given gardaí the go-ahead to interview two sisters, aged six and four, over allegations their mother has been physically abusive to them.

The mother has declined gardaí permission to interview her two daughters over their allegations of physical abuse against her.

However, an order under the Child Care Act 1991 made by Judge Patrick Durcan at the Family Law Court in Ennis now overrides her refusal.

Judge Durcan’s order follows him making a similar order at the court in May allowing gardaí interview an older brother of the girls over allegations that the mother hit him with a bat on the head when he failed to tidy his bedroom.

The mother has denied all the allegations of physical abuse.

At the Family Law Court in Ennis, solicitor for the Child & Family Agency, Kevin Sherry, said the two girls ‘have been forthcoming with various allegations of physical abuse against their mother’.

Solicitor for the mother told the court that her client has no objection in principle to the interview taking place.

The lawyer said: ‘We are consenting on the basis as to whether or not a guardian will be present, and the mother is the only guardian; how many gardaí will be interviewing; if it will be videoed and if there will be video evidence made available.’

Judge Durcan ordered that the gardaí outline how the interviews will be in conducted in writing to the mother’s solicitor 14 days in advance of the interview taking place.

Earlier this month, Judge Durcan granted a care order to the CFA for the two girls after hearing they had locked themselves into a bathroom in a relative’s home over fears of being returned to their mother.

The social worker in the case stated the mother has consistently denied she has used any violence against her children.