A MAN has gone on trial at the Central Criminal Court accused of the sexual and physical abuse of his children as well as failing to provide them with adequate food and clothing in the family home.
The man, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the children, has pleaded not guilty to the rape and sexual assault of a daughter and the sexual assault of a son in 2007.
He has also pleaded not guilty to the wilful assault of three children in a manner likely to cause unnecessary suffering, injury to the children’s health or seriously affect their wellbeing between January and September 2007.
He further denies the wilful neglect of all five children by failing to provide adequate clothing or food.
Isobel Kennedy SC, prosecuting, told the jury in opening the case that the children would give evidence by video link due to their young age.
She told the jury that they would hear evidence from social workers who met the children in September 2007 that they looked dirty, had “filthy” matted hair and they were inadequately clothed.
Ms Kennedy said the social workers would give evidence that the children “ate hungrily when given food”.
Ms Justice Elizabeth Dunne adjourned the case to allow the necessary equipment to be set up in the court room.
She asked the jury of five men and seven women to return tomorrow.