A “cross” father who regularly beat his young children with household items, including a belt, a spoon and a ladle, has been given a two-year suspended jail sentence. His wife, who also beat the children, was also given a suspended two-year jail term in March. Judge Martin Nolan said he had formed the impression the accused was “a stubborn, irascible man” and “a cross man”. It’s seems undoubtedly that this was cruelty.”He took into account several mitigating factors when imposing the suspended sentence, including the sentence meted out to the children’s mother, the man’s lack of criminal convictions and his remorse. Paul Greene SC, defending, said his client’s plea had saved his children the ordeal of being cross-examined at trial.

Source: The Irish Times May 11, 2018 14:40 UTC