Judge asks if Kerry girl could reconcile with father who 'hit her nine times with ash branch'

The charge refers to the wilful assault, ill-treatment or neglect of the 10-year-old exposing her to unnecessary suffering

Judge Marian O’Leary suggested the restorative justice approach. File photo

A girl who was struck by her father with the branch an ash tree in May 2019 has no wish to see her father ever again but the sentencing judge has asked the probation service to approach her to see if she would speak to her father.

Another child in the family does meet him for supervised access but the 10-year-old who was struck in 2019 does not want to see him. The defendant and his wife are no longer together.