The following article by Jane Last appeared in the Evening Herald on the 10th March.
A mother who falsely alleged her eight-year-old daughter was raped by a teenage neighbour has been sentenced to 11 months in prison.
The woman from Co Offaly made a complaint that her then eight-year-old daughter had been taken into a wooded area and then raped by a 14-year-old neighbour. The court heard the woman made the complaint on foot of a row with the teenage boy's family.
Judge John Neilan said the defendant's allegation was outrageous and completely inexplicable, after she appeared before a District Court.
"It seems the reason behind this is that you had an argument with a neighbour and this was your vindictive mechanism to get your own back".
Judge Neilan said he was adjourning the woman's prison sentence until June 11 to allow the HSE to carry out a Section 20 report to determine whether the defendant, who is now three months pregnant, was fit to care for her school-going children.
Judge Neilan also requested the Probation Service to prepare a report and also asked gardai to inquire as to whether the teenage boy falsely accused of rape wished to make a Victim Impact Statement.
Garda O'Leary gave evidence of how he was called to the defendant's home on a date last year when she reported that a local youth had brought her young daughter to a wooded area and removed her clothing. She then made a complaint of rape.
Upon making further enquiries, gardai learned that the complaint was false.
Solicitor Brian O'Sullivan said his client acknowledged within 24 hours of making the complaint that it was false.
Mr O'Sullivan said the matter came to an end within 48 hours and there have been no further developments between the defendant and the victim's family.
He added that what his client did was "unforgivable" and she apologised for her conduct. He said her daughter, now aged nine, had not been affected by the episode.
Judge Neilan said to put a child through an "ordeal" like this was "heinous", not to mention the unfortunate "suspect she identified".