Couple may face hundreds of abuse charges

A SENIOR garda has told a court that a Galway couple charged with the abuse and neglect of their children are to face possibly hundreds more charges.

The 48-year old man is charged with raping four of his daughters and neglect and cruelty towards a son between 1997 and April 2009, while his wife faces 18 charges of cruelty and neglect of her children between May 2002 and June 2009.

At a special sitting of Ennis District Court yesterday, the couple were making their second appearance after being remanded in custody on Christmas Eve.

Yesterday, the two – who cannot be named for legal reasons – applied for bail. Supt Enda Walshe told the court: “The charges before the court are serious as they stand, but they face further charges, possibly running into the hundreds.”

During the bail hearing yesterday, Supt Walshe put it to the accused man in the witness box: “You have subjected your daughters to a catalogue of horrendous sexual abuse since 1985.” The man replied: “No, it’s all lies.”

Supt Walshe also asked the man’s wife in the witness box about the allegations made by their daughters against their father. She said: “No, I don’t believe they happened.”

Supt Walshe said that he was objecting to bail on a number of grounds, including because the two were likely to evade justice and interfere with witnesses. Other grounds were the seriousness of the charges, the weight of evidence, the likely sentence if convicted and the fact that the two had no fixed abode.

Supt Walshe said that an initial allegation was made against the man by one of his daughters in July 2000, but was withdrawn the following year.

Det Garda Mary Hession said the current charges relate to allegations that were made last April.

She said “numerous witness statements have been taken and there are six alleged injured parties and all are sons and daughters of the accused”.

One of the couple’s daughters told the court the 2000 allegation was withdrawn after their mother told her that she and her father would end up killing themselves if the complaint was not withdrawn.

The daughter also alleged in court yesterday that her mother offered to pay money and buy a car for her sister if the allegation was withdrawn. Under cross-examination from Supt Walshe, the mother said yesterday that she had never intimidated or offered inducements to any of her daughters to withdraw a complaint.

The couple’s solicitor Sheena McCarthy said they denied making any attempt to stop complaints being made.

Ms McCarthy said all of the children were now in care.

Judge Joseph Mangan remanded the two in custody to reappear before Athenry District Court on January 12th.