A WOMAN has pleaded guilty before Galway Circuit Criminal Court to the cruelty and neglect of eight of her children.
The woman (46), who may not be named in order to protect the identity of the children, pleaded guilty yesterday to eight charges of wilfully assaulting, ill-treating and neglecting her children.
She admitted abandoning or exposing them or causing, procuring or allowing them to be assaulted, ill-treated, neglected, abandoned or exposed in a manner likely to cause unnecessary suffering or injury to their health or to seriously affect their well-being over seven years from May 2002 to June 2009.
The charges relate to two of the woman’s sons and the remaining charges relate to six daughters.
Bernard Madden SC, defending, said he needed time to obtain psychiatric and psychological reports on his client in order to put together a plea in mitigation prior to sentencing.
Judge Raymond Groarke adjourned the case to March 25th when a date will be fixed to hear evidence. He directed psychiatric and psychological reports in relation to the accused be furnished before sentencing and directed the preparation of victim impact reports in relation to the eight children.