'The most egregious breaches of trust by those who are presumed to protect their infant child': Father sentenced to 5.5 years and mother sentenced to 4 years and 9 months in Ireland's first FGM trial
THE PARENTS OF a young girl who is deemed to have undergone female genital mutilation have today been jailed after being found guilty last year following a trial.
The maximum sentence for an FGM conviction in Ireland is 14 years, while the neglect conviction has a maximum sentence of seven years. The couple had claimed their daughter, who was just under two years old at the time, sustained her injuries after falling onto a toy while not wearing a nappy at the family’s Dublin home. This version of events was disputed by three medical experts over the course of the trial.
Doctors found that part of the girl’s clitoris has been removed, consistent with FGM Type 1, when she presented at Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin in September 2016. She said, after examining the evidence presented to her, she deemed the offence to be in the ‘mid-range’ and said the appropriate headline sentence was seven years in prison for the FGM conviction and four years in prison for the neglect conviction.
The children of the accused are currently being cared for by their aunt, their mother’s sister and Judge Sheahan noted that the appropriate services are “supportive of this and are overseeing it”. She said the children have remained in similar surroundings and the same crèche, and are “said to be well cared for and doing well”.
He encouraged people to be “vigilant and aware of this crime” and urged anyone who suspects or believes a child is likely to be subjected to FGM, either in Ireland or by being brought outside the country, to contact their local garda station, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or call the Child Abuse Reporting Line on 1800 555 222.The man, aged in his 30s, and the woman, aged in her 20s, had pleaded not guilty to the charges.
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