Child abuse trial adjourned to consider more charges
The sentencing of a man convicted of neglect and physical abuse of his children has been adjourned to allow a decision to be made by the Director of Public Prosecutions on whether he should be retried on three outstanding counts.
The 42-year-old man, who can not be named to protect the identity of the children, was convicted by a Central Criminal Court jury last April, following a 13-day trial of neglecting four of his children and three counts of assaulting each of his sons on dates between January and September 2007.
The jury failed to agreed a verdict on the final counts of rape and sexual assault of the man’s daughter and a charge of neglecting his youngest son.
Ms Justice Elizabeth Dunne said, following submissions by counsel, that it was not unreasonable that it should be known whether the accused would be retried before sentencing on these charges was finalised.
Ms Justice Dunne adjourned the case to later this month when a new trial date may be set.
