A mother who was found guilty of 29 counts of child cruelty and neglect is to be sentenced today.
The woman (39), who cannot be named in order to protect the identities of the children involved, could receive up to a maximum of seven years in prison for each count.
The woman's ex-partner, who is the father of two of her nine children, admitted to five charges of neglect against his own children and their half-siblings. He will also find out if he will serve a prison sentence today.
During a two-week trial three months ago, Galway Circuit Court heard that the woman punished her children by pouring soap down their throats. She was also accused of cutting the arm of one of her children and pushing another one down the stairs. The children were malnourished and frequently left in the care of strangers.
The court heard that in one year between 2010 and 2011, one child missed 76 school days.
The pair will be sentenced this afternoon.
Main Image: Connacht Tribune
