Courts / Dublin / Report
First conviction for female genital mutilation sees married couple jailed
Summary
A married couple has been sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in the first FGM conviction in Irish history. The 37-year-old man and 27-year-old woman, who pleaded not guilty, were convicted by a jury of carrying out an act of FGM on their one-year-old daughter and child cruelty on September 16, 2016. Judge Elma Sheahan described the premeditated act as a severe breach of trust, noting the lack of remorse. The male accused was sentenced to five and a half years imprisonment for FGM, with a concurrent three-year sentence for child cruelty. The female accused received four years and nine months for FGM, with a concurrent two-year, nine-month sentence for child cruelty. All sentences were backdated to the date of their initial custody. Both accused have been remanded in custody since their conviction. The court noted the victim is in the care of a relative, and the man faces a deportation order under review. Detective Chief Superintendent Declan Daly stated the sentence sends a strong message that FGM is a criminal offence not tolerated in Ireland.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: First conviction for female genital mutilation sees married couple jailed. Charges or matters: one count of carrying out an act of FGM on a then one-year-old girl at an address in Dublin on September 16, 2016; one count of child cruelty on the same day; cutting her three year old daughter and sentenced to 11 years imprisonment. Procedural stage: sentence. Findings: Convicted
When:
- September 16, 2016 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2020-01-27 Publication
Why: She noted that prison "may be more difficult" for the accused because of the type of offending involved. CNI source report
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Charges: one count of carrying out an act of FGM on a then one-year-old girl at an address in Dublin on September 16, 2016; one count of child cruelty on the same day; cutting her three year old daughter and sentenced to 11 years imprisonment (Proven)
Finding: Convicted
Outcome: Convicted; Credit: Collins) A married couple convicted of the female genital mutilation (FGM) of their daughter in the first case of its kind in the nation's history have been jailed. She made reference to a similar case in the UK in which a mother was convicted of cutting her three year old daughter and sentenced to 11 years imprisonment.; They have been remanded in custody since the date of their conviction by a jury.
Places mentioned
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
- to contact their local Garda station
Topics
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