Mum in jail requests a judge to defer her child's First Holy Communion until release from prison

A ‘DEEPLY religious’ mother currently in prison wept in court after a judge refused her request to defer her child's First Holy Communion until later in the year.

At a Family Law Court sitting, Judge Valerie Corcoran said that it would be more detrimental in the long run for the child if the First Holy Communion with the school's communion class did not proceed in May as planned.

Judge Corcoran said she attached a lot of weight to the evidence given by the mother in the application but what was paramount in the case was the interest of the child.

Accompanied from prison by a female prison officer in the custody suite in the court, the mother bowed her head and cried after Judge Corcoran ruled that the First Communion is to proceed as planned.

The TUSLA appointed social care worker in the case told the court that no communion dress has been purchased as they were awaiting the outcome of the court’s decision on the issue of the First Holy Communion.

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The mother is not due for release until May of this year and after the woman received her prison term in January, TUSLA the Child and Family Agency (CFA) secured care orders to take a number of her children into care.

Giving sworn evidence, the mother said: “Judge please do not let this First Communion go ahead. Please.”

The mother said that there is no reason why the First Communion should go ahead in May when the family can do it privately later on in the year with other family members after release from custody and re-unification with her children.

The woman has a number of children and said: “I am their mother. I carried them. I gave birth to them. This is a very big thing for me.”

The mother said that she is not going to have another child or girl and wanted to be involved in getting the dress, the make-up, the hair and the nails done in advance of the First Communion Day.

The mother said that “religion is good” at the family home.

She said: “We go to Mass and we say our prayers at home. This is a big, big thing to me.”

The mother said that she didn’t want the First Holy Communion going ahead when she has her children “in a stranger’s care”.

The mother said that she spoke to her children on a video call from prison earlier this month and they want the First Holy Communion to be deferred.

The mother dismissed the idea of the First Holy Communion proceeding in May and the family holding their own private First Holy Communion later in the year.

She said: “Two First Communions? No priest is going to stand over two first Holy Communions to be fair about it.”

The mother said that she has had no role in the preparation of the First Holy Communion “as I have been in custody”.

Judge Corcoran said the mother is “deeply religious” and said that the mother is due for release on remission almost two weeks before the First Holy Communion date and she said that she hopes that the mother will be able to participate in the choice of dress for the day and other preparations - and to be present on the day.

The TUSLA social care worker in the case said that TUSLA understands that the First Holy Communion  “is a very special time” for the mother and TUSLA very much welcomes the mother’s participation in the preparation for the First Holy Communion day and on the day itself if she is released from prison by then.

The TUSLA worker said that she spoke to the woman's children and they wish to proceed with the First Holy Communion in May.

The court-appointed independent voice of the child in the case, the Guardian ad Litem said that he supported the CFA wish to proceed with the First Holy Communion in May.

Judge Corcoran refused an application by solicitor, William O’Keeffe for the mother to put a stay on her order, pending an appeal.