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| Parents accused of sexually abusing their four children | Parents accused of sexually abusing their four children |
| (35 minutes 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. | 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. | 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 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. |
| An earlier hearing had been told the woman was a prostitute. | |
| The prosecution barrister told the court on Friday that 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. | 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. | 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. | 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 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. | 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. |