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A woman who systematically beat and tortured her partner’s daughter for years and made fun of her like some kind of Cinderella has been imprisoned for two years.
Bridget Kenneally, 19, The Green, Duncoran, Youghal, Co Cork, beat the boy for almost 11 years with implements including a poker, spatula, wooden spoon, hinge set, and suction pipe.
Kenneally was jailed for two years in Cork Circuit Criminal Court on a charge of assault causing injury to Cora Desmond, then 10, in October 2009 at 7 Kenny’s Lane, Youghal.
Ms. Desmond did not believe the apologies that were made and said, “I feel like you enjoyed torturing me and that you will never regret what you have done.”
Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin said: “This continued to brutally cause great harm to the child victim over a long period of time.
“We are talking about systemic abuse: cruelty of a controlling verbal and physical nature, including broken bones and other hospitalizations. And the force-feeding of vinegar and chili and other items.
“She was deprived of a childhood. What a girl could hope for a carefree start was lost in painful misery.
“I have to meet the victim when he says he doesn’t accept the apology. That is significant because you know the accused and are not impressed by the apology.
“The psychologist’s report (on Kenneally) shows limited or no perception and limited or no regret. She is full of apologies for herself … She feels that there is revenge against her.
“She has offered 5,000 euros to offset any out-of-pocket expenses that the victim may have suffered. I accept that this is a significant figure given her limited circumstances.”
Defense attorney Patrick O’Riordan said the defendant expressed remorse and apologies. He said he had a psychiatric history dating back to the death of his 15-year-old brother in a car accident.
O’Riordan said of the defendant: “I was having a hard time coping.”
He asked the judge to take into consideration the guilty plea, the lack of previous convictions, compensation and present responsibilities.
Imelda Kelly, a lawyer for the prosecution, said that the Director of the Public Prosecutor’s Office accepted the guilty plea to the charge of assault that caused damage in 2009 on the basis that the surrounding background would be detailed in the sentence.
The DPP also said a guilty plea could have been dealt with at the district court level.
Sgt. Mark Ward said the investigation began when 16-year-old Cora Desmond filed a complaint of assault by Bridget Kenneally, who was in a relationship with Cora’s father.
The victim was taken to Mercy University Hospital with more than 50 bruises on his body. In addition to describing years of physical assault, she told Sergeant Ward that Kenneally added chili, vinegar and strong spices to her food and was forced to eat it.
One of the threats he used against her to file a complaint was that they would separate her from her sister if she told what was happening.
Sergeant Ward said Cora’s father no longer had a relationship with the defendant. Sergeant Ward said Bridget Kenneally was interviewed about the assaults and cruelty, but did not admit to Gardaí at all.
“At the age of three my parents separated and my father obtained custody of my sister and me. When he was five years old, he entered into a new relationship with Bridget Kenneally.
“At the beginning of the relationship, Bridget seemed nice and caring, but this didn’t last long.
“About six months into the 11-year relationship, the horrible abuse started with some slapping and punching, but then gradually got worse.
“Over the years, it became very clear to me that Bridget was just a punching bag. They (their own children) were treated much better than me and my sister. They could go out and hang out with friends. My sister and I were denied the same freedom.
Instead, we were confined to her residence to clean up after her and her children.
“I was the one who was not wanted or loved and who should also be treated like her.
“He had a double life for 11 years. At home he was trapped, constantly living in fear of the next beating or punishment. While at school she was free, happy, jovial and full of life.
“(Later) the staff and others noticed that I was not myself. Now they described me as quiet and reserved.
I lost my trust and my friends, but the most important thing is that I lost my freedom.
“But here she is in a court of law to face heinous crimes of cruelty.”
“My childhood and adolescence were all based on lies, but today the truth has finally come to light.
“They made me lie about my injuries and tell people that I was just a clumsy girl. One of the many lies I had to tell was how I broke my thumb. The truth is that she broke it.
“They made me tell people that I broke it myself when I was in the back garden of Bridget’s house, hanging clothes. But that’s not the case. It twisted my hand so much that it actually broke my bone .
“But that was not the worst. On one of the occasions when I ended up in the hospital, I received a severe beating on the head that made me swell. He made me tell the doctors that I hit my head in Funderland.
“One of the recurring daily punishments was that he fed me excessive amounts of salt, pepper, mustard, chili powder and vinegar. Since I left their care, I have long-lasting negative reactions to certain smells and tastes.
“With the help of my supportive family, friends and counselors that I have been working with, I can remember all the things that she did to me and that I blocked to survive living with her. I have multiple physical scars. That’s nothing compared to the mental scars I now live with on a daily basis.
“She stole my happiness from me for 11 years. But I refuse to let him take any more of my precious time.
“Now I understand that none of… the horrible and inhuman treatment that she was pleased to inflict on me… was my fault and I didn’t deserve any of it, although that’s what she led me to believe.
“No one should go through what I did and I hope that one day she will realize the damage caused by her actions. She controlled my past. I will not let her dictate my future.”
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