This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-26679754
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 2 | Version 3 |
---|---|
Parents accused of sexually abusing their four children | Parents accused of sexually abusing their four children |
(about 3 hours later) | |
A prostitute who made some of her children watch as she had sex with clients, one of whom was a police officer, has pleaded guilty to cruelty, gross indecency and neglect. | |
Her four children suffered sexual abuse, neglect and cruelty by their parents, two uncles and two other men, a Belfast court has been told. | |
The offences were committed between the late 1970s and early 1990s. | |
The court heard the abuse occurred when the four children were very young. | The court heard the abuse occurred when the four children were very young. |
It also heard the mother had sex on various occasions with different men, usually while drunk, sometimes even with two of her brothers. | It also heard the mother had sex on various occasions with different men, usually while drunk, sometimes even with two of her brothers. |
The prosecution barrister told the court the woman made her young children watch her having sex, when some of them were as young as six. | |
He added that one child was so neglected, she was left in a cot until she was two years old and could not walk or talk. | He added that one child was so neglected, she was left in a cot until she was two years old and could not walk or talk. |
The court also heard details of a social worker's report that said that the home was dirty, full of rubbish and the children were left starving. The social worker also observed mouse droppings in a cereal box. | The court also heard details of a social worker's report that said that the home was dirty, full of rubbish and the children were left starving. The social worker also observed mouse droppings in a cereal box. |
The mother was constantly drunk, it was alleged. | The mother was constantly drunk, it was alleged. |
The judge also heard that one child, a 'bed wetter', was made to sleep on a heavily soiled mattress. | The judge also heard that one child, a 'bed wetter', was made to sleep on a heavily soiled mattress. |
The prosecution barrister said the father subjected the children to multiple and brutal beatings, usually with a belt and sometimes around the head. | The prosecution barrister said the father subjected the children to multiple and brutal beatings, usually with a belt and sometimes around the head. |
None of the family can be named in order to protect the identity of the victims. | |
Former police reservist Thomas Fitzpatrick, 53, formerly of Crewhill Gardens in Ardglass, County Down, but now with an address in Belfast, was convicted of indecent assault and gross indecency. | |
Patrick Kilmartin, 59, a baker from Newcastle, County Down, and originally from Bryansford Gardens but now at another address in the town, was convicted of indecent assault. | |
The mother and father pleaded guilty to 17 counts of cruelty and neglect and the father one of assault. | |
The mother also admitted six counts of gross indecency. | The mother also admitted six counts of gross indecency. |
The children's two uncles pleaded guilty to charges of child sexual abuse. | |
It is expected that all the accused will be sentenced later. | It is expected that all the accused will be sentenced later. |