Govt support for foster care
THE Irish Foster Care Association has welcomed the support included in the new Programme for Government.
The group said the commitment to the development of fostering affirms the importance of its role for the 6,000 kids in foster family homes.
The IFCA said: “Foster care is the backbone of children who are in the care of the State in Ireland and recognition of its value by the incoming Government is welcome.”
THE sisters of a mother left brain damaged after her ex-partner jumped on her head 17 times while she was pregnant have told of their “nightmare”.
Lance Dempsey, 28, who was living in Co Cavan at the time of the attack in March 2018, was yesterday sentenced to 11 years in prison with the final 18 months suspended.
He had pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm to Sonia Lee in the unprovoked attack, according to RTE News.
Cavan Circuit Court heard Dempsey left Ms Lee with lasting brain damage following the attack on her at the bottom of a stairwell.
The court was told Dempsey launched the attack when they were on a night out in Cavan town.
A witness told the court Dempsey had been “acting aggressively” in a pub.
The couple were asked to leave when Dempsey punched a wall inside the premises and the attack happened shortly afterwards.
A witness told the court how he heard a male shouting before the woman said: “Please stop hitting me.”
Despite her pleas, the defendant punched her twice on the head before jumping on her head 17 times.
When gardai later found Dempsey, he told them his girlfriend had “fell down” some stairs. He then resisted arrest, attempted to hit one guard and bit the fingers of another.
Ms Lee, who will never live independently again, spent eight months in hospital, including 10 days in a coma. During that time she contracted sepsis and pneumonia in her lung.
While there, she also discovered she was 15 weeks’ pregnant.
But despite the extent of her injuries Ms Lee gave birth to a healthy baby boy.
However, due to permanent brain damage, Ms Lee will never be able to care for her children without assistance.
Her sister Aisling Lee told RTE News the family feared she would not survive.
Aisling said: “The first six weeks there were times we were told the life support was going to be turned off. She had an hour to live. “The whole eight months of her being in hospital was a nightmare.”
Regarding Dempsey’s sentence, she added: “It’s never going to change what happened to Sonia. She’s still going to be brain damaged and he could be walking the streets in seven years.
“Life is a struggle. It’s hard with the two kids. Sonia goes to a rehab centre every day. We have to get on with life now it’s all over.”
Sonia Lee