A jury at the Central Criminal Court has found a father of five guilty of two charges of wilful neglect and wilful assault of two sons, bringing to seven the number of guilty findings against the man.
The jury will continue their deliberations on the remaining three charges tomorrow.
The accused man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has pleaded not guilty to the rape and sexual assault of his now 10-year-old daughter in September 2007. He also pleaded not guilty to the sexual assault of his now 13-year-old son between January and February 2007.
He pleaded not guilty to the wilful assault of his three sons in a manner likely to cause unnecessary suffering or injury to the children’s health or seriously affect their well-being between January and September 2007.
He further denied the wilful neglect of all five children, now aged between seven and 14 years old, by failing to provide adequate clothing or food.
The jury began deliberating on Friday afternoon, after Ms Justice Elizabeth Dunne directed them to return a verdict of not guilty on a charge of sexual assault of his now 13-year-old son.
She said there was no evidence to support the charge.
Yesterday, the jury found the 42-year-old man guilty of the wilful neglect of his two daughters, then aged eight and four, and his eldest son, then aged 11. It also found him guilty of the wilful assault of his eldest two sons.
Today, the jury found him guilty of the wilful neglect of his second-oldest son, then aged 10 and of the wilful assault of his youngest son, then aged six.
The remaining charges concern the rape and sexual assault of his now 10-year-old daughter, and the wilful neglect of his youngest son.
Today the jury told Ms Justice Dunne they wished to have a second viewing of the evidence given by the 10-year-old daughter by video-link. Her evidence concerned claims of sexual assault. The jury also asked for a second viewing of interviews with the child in a child assessment unit.
