1989:The first of the mother's six children is born in Co Roscommon in November
1996: Serious concerns of neglect and emotional abuse are raised with social services after the birth of the family's fourth child.
Health authorities begin to provide periodic family support from home help, public health nurses and social workers.
September/October 2000:The mother agrees to place her six children in the care of their maternal aunt and uncle on a voluntary basis.
Within days, the parents secure a High Court order restraining the health board from placing the children in care.
May 2001:Health authorities unsuccessfully seek to have the restraining order lifted.
The High Court rules that it should remain in place until a District Court judge makes a child care order. The mother tells social workers and home helps that major improvements have been made in the level of their care, such as better hygiene in the house, etc.
May 2004:The eldest boy is taken into care after disclosing details of neglect and abuse to a social worker.
September 2004:All children are taken into care. Children begin to disclose the scale of abuse and neglect they have suffered to social workers. Gardaí officially begin their investigation.
June 2005:The eldest son gives a statement to gardaí detailing abuse and neglect in the family home.
March 2006:One of the children discloses to gardaí for the first time that he has been the victim of incest involving his mother, after his older brother left the family home in May 2004.
“I want to tell you the things my mother did to me,” he tells gardaí.
May 2006:The mother is arrested by gardaí and later admits to abuse and neglect of her children, as well as incest and sexual assault of her second eldest boy.
January 2009:She is sentenced to seven years in prison for the abuse and pleading guilty to incest, sexual assault and abuse of her children.