Mother spared jail in Cork child cruelty case

The judge acknowledged that there had also been a haemorrhage of experienced social workers from Tusla

Judge Roberts said the only reason he wanted a HSE social worker in court to give evidence before sentencing was not because Tusla were in any way on trial in this case but because serious allegations had been made by the young woman. Picture: Denis Minihane.

Tusla should have been more attentive to ‘red flags’ in a child cruelty case, a sentencing judge commented but he also said that it was the mother and not the child and family agency which had been put on trial.

Judge Colm Roberts said the primary responsibility for the well-being of the child rested with the parents.