Boy, 12, tells court he believes mother was manipulated by father

The 12-year-old son of a woman found guilty of child cruelty has told a court in a victim impact report that he doesn’t believe she did anything wrong.

The child said he put the blame on his father, aged 64, who was convicted in May of nine counts of raping the boy when he was aged six and seven. The trial at the Central Criminal Court heard he put the child in a wooden box and nailed it shut in their Waterford home.

Mr Justice Robert Eager said yesterday he would not impose sentence on the 37-year-old woman until he has dealt with her partner, who is due in court on September 23. The judge remanded the woman in continuing custody until October 17.