County Derry woman jailed for child cruelty offences
Ruth Ann Jennings (53) of Oakvale Place in Maghera admitted three counts of assaulting a person on July 1, 2012 and November 1, 2016. Her then partner, Brian McMaster (41) of Upper Princess Street in Ballymena admitted one charge of cruelty to the then child, Jamie Jennings, on dates between December 1, 2016 and March 31, 2018
Derry Crown Court was told today how a man had ceased refer to his mother as mother after she was jailed for assaulting him.
Ruth Ann Jennings (53) of Oakvale Place in Maghera admitted three counts of assaulting a person on July 1, 2012 and November 1, 2016.
Her then partner, Brian McMaster (41) of Upper Princess Street in Ballymena admitted one charge of cruelty to the then child, Jamie Jennings, on dates between December 1, 2016 and March 31, 2018.
The court heard the offences came to light when Jamie Jennings revealed he had been subjected to 'physical and mental abuse' at the hands of the pair.
On one occasion his mother had thrown a pair of scissors at him breaking the skin.
One another she had cut him with a blade to his chest and then on a third occasion had grabbed him and forced his head into cat litter.
McMasters had on occasions grabbed the boys hand and squeezed it so hard ye was forced to the ground.
On other occasions he would hit him on the genitals and when asked to stop he laughed.
Judge Neil Rafferty KC said that the pre-sentence reports on both defendants 'did not make good reading'.
He said both defendants in their dealings with probation had sought to minimise their offences with Jennings denying she had assaulted Jamie and McMaster claiming it was 'a game'.
Judge Rafferty said it was 'a cruel and callous course of conduct' and imposed a six month immediate custody on both.