FROM THE ARCHIVES:This was one of the district court cases documented by Nell McCafferty’s “In the Eyes of The Law” column in the 1970s. – JOE JOYCE
A WOMAN TOOK the witness stand, to testify against her husband. They did not come from the best address in town.
“I had him in court three years ago,” she began in agitation. District Justice Good asked her to confine herself to the night before. She told her story, quickly, hysterically.
“He came in and picked the child up like a football and kicked her. He has me scourged. He’s wrecked the place, and he won’t leave the kids alone. He just picked her up in the air, and let her fall, trying to twist her back. She has a little limp in her leg, she was 2½ years in hospital. As true as God I’ll go out of my mind if you don’t do something, Justice. I have five children, and I’ve just got a note from the court to pay £15 in fines because they didn’t go to school. I want them to go to school, but it’s fighting in the house morning, noon and night.”
The Justice tried to soothe her. “Let’s get the facts clear,” he said. “Is it possible he picked her up to play? Fathers often lift their children.”
“No, he wasn’t playing,” the woman’s voice rose. “He always picks on that poor child. Hes got a real spite at her.
“All he gives me is £13 a week for me and five kids. I don’t pay the rent any more. I gave up paying that out of £13. I just want to get rid of him . . . if you’d heard that child screaming . . .”
The guard said that the child showed no sign of injury at the station. When they had gone for the husband he had come quietly and was fully co-operative. He had, in fact, volunteered to come to the station.
The husband gave his story from the dock.
“I didn’t pick the child up and let her fall. I will admit I hit her . . . this thing had been going on from one o’clock that day . . . but it all led up to that, Justice. I came home and I had a few on me. This had been brewing all day, and it came to a bit of a head. The child was sent a message, and she came back and told two different stories. I just wanted to find out for myself. So, when I came in that night, all I tried to do was get the truth out of her.”
“And how did you try to get the truth out of her?” interrupted the Justice.
“I gave her a clip, I slapped her,” said the father.
“You took your child, who has a natural limp, a six-year-old limping child, and you hit her for no reason at all,” said the Justice.
“She told me one story, and her mother something else,” he said.
“You took it out on this child. Have you anything else to say about last night?” asked the Justice.
“I’m sorry about it,” said the father.
“I find the charge proved. This is the most blackguardly assault committed by a father on his child,” said the Justice “Some men will have to realise that they can’t do this to their children. Six months’ imprisonment.”
http://url.ie/dolp