Woman opposes her rapist partner's access to their child
A woman opposed an application by her husband, who has rape conviction, to have access to their child.
The case came before Naas District Court.
The court was told that the man is serving a sentence for the offence.
The woman claimed that the child hasn’t spoken to their father for some time and “doesn’t speak about him.”
Judge Desmond Zaidan said that the Supreme Court has ruled that even people serving life sentences have a right to access to their child and the child has an equal right of access to the parent.
The judge told the woman that if access is granted, the prison authorities would be sensitive to the needs of the child and the woman will be part of any visit.
The judge said he did not want to outrightly refuse the application of the man for access - because the man would win his case on appeal.
“He has a right in law to access and I’m just marking your cards,” the judge told the woman.
He recalled that he had refused an application previously and “I was overturned.”
He also told the woman that the fact of the man’s conviction cannot be swept under the carpet.
This, he added, would have to be addressed with the child and he recommended that the woman get help from a child psychologist when doing this.
He adjourned the case to September 17.