‘Evil person’ who punched girls aged 12 and 14 with closed fist jailed at Limerick court

A LIMERICK man who punched two girls, then aged 14 and 12, with a closed fist into their faces and pushed their brother, 13, into a lake during a year and a half of “physical and emotional abuse” is an “evil person”, Limerick Circuit Court heard. 

Neighbours heard “blood curdling screams” and one of the children sought sanctuary in a house nearby. 

The Limerick man pleaded guilty to three counts of cruelty to children between January 1, 2018 and July 10, 2019.

All three children gave victim impact statements with one saying: “I still get nightmares. I still feel disgusted every time I see his face.”

Prosecuting barrister John O’Sullivan, instructed by State solicitor Padraig Mawe, outlined the evidence with the assistance of Detective Garda Dave Barry on Friday, July 26.

Mr O’Sullivan said the catalyst for the garda involvement and history of child cruelty being uncovered was in the early hours of July 10, 2019.

“Members of gardai were dispatched to reports a young female child had been assaulted. It is obvious two children suffered injuries. One child sought refuge in a neighbouring house. The mother implicated herself. The accused denied any knowledge.

“Two children indicated the accused as their assailant. They said he punched them with a closed fist into their faces,” said Mr O’Sullivan.

The court heard one of the girls had difficulty seeing out of her left eye as it was swollen and bruised. Her sister had soft tissue injuries to her face and minor bruising. They were taken to University Hospital Limerick for treatment for their injuries.

The court heard that prior to the girls being punched, one of them pushed the defendant as “he was about to hit her mother”. The accused went to a bedroom where he told one of the girls to shut up and stop crying before punching her and when her sister intervened, he punched her.

Mr O’Sullivan said there was a significant amount of blood staining in the bedroom where the sisters were punched and blood on their pyjamas. One neighbour told gardai they heard “blood curdling screams”.

When the accused was arrested and detained by gardai he “took umbrage”.

“During the first interview he said, ‘I didn’t commit an offence’. He refused to look at photos (of the children),” said the prosecuting barrister.

Mr O’Sullivan read out victim impact statements from each of the three children.

One of the sisters said only the defendant can answer the question why he “got such satisfaction from purposely tormenting us”.

She said she struggles with confidence and her mental health and “it breaks my heart that I can’t forgive or forget”.

“He hated us for no reason. He completely destroyed  me,” read Mr O’Sullivan.

She said she still gets nightmares and feels disgusted every time she sees his face.

Her sister said she still gets flashbacks of “him hitting me, pulling my hair, and slapping me”.

“He damaged my life really badly to the point where I was scared to sleep as I knew I would get flashbacks. He is an evil person,” read Mr O’Sullivan.

The brother said he and his sisters wouldn't leave their rooms because they were scared.

On one occasion, the boy said they were at a lake.

“He said jump in and when I refused he pushed me. Ever since then I'm scared of water. I hope he gets the punishment he deserves,” read out Mr O’Sullivan on behalf of the victim.

Mark Nicholas SC, who represented the accused, said it is an upsetting case.

“It is unpleasant. The injuries were inflicted following an unspeakable and unacceptable row (between the mother and accused) and the children became involved. Two girls were struck. What happened was not acceptable,” said Mr Nicholas.

He said the pleas of guilty ensured there was no trial and retraumatisation.

Mr Nicholas said the probation report said his client expressed fulsome regret and remorse.

“He accepted he has a short temper and can act cruelly. He has completed 24 sessions with Move (Men Overcoming Violence), hypnotherapy and counselling. He accepts the children were telling the truth. It is abhorrent,” said Mr Nicholas, who asked Judge Dermot Sheehan not to impose a custodial sentence.

The judge adjourned sentencing until this Wednesday, July 31 to consider his verdict. 

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In giving his sentence, Judge Sheehan said a custodial term of imprisonment was warranted for a person treating children cruelly.

“He bullied them by demeaning them with verbal abuse and displayed physical violence,” said Judge Sheehan, who spoke of the controlling behaviour of the defendant in relation to how the children spoke.

Judge Sheehan imposed concurrent three year prison sentences for child cruelty to the two girls and consecutive 18 month prison sentence for child cruelty to the boy.

The judge suspended the last 18 months of the four and a half year jail sentence.