BRIEGE MEEHAN'S SHOCKING CHILD CRUELTY CASE IN BELFAST REVEALS DARK PAST
In a case that has sent shockwaves through Belfast and the wider community, Briege Meehan, a former Sinn Féin councillor, has been convicted of serious child cruelty and assault charges stemming from incidents that took place over three decades ago.Meehan, aged 66 and residing on Elmfield Street in Belfast, faced a court hearing in June where she admitted to abusing her stepdaughter, Mary Meehan, in a case that uncovered disturbing details from her past.
The court proceedings revealed that the offences occurred between July 1979 and October 1980, a period during which Meehan was the girlfriend of Martin Meehan, who was then on remand in prison on IRA kidnapping charges.
The allegations detailed acts of physical abuse inflicted upon her stepdaughter, including striking her with objects such as a bottle, a brush shaft, or a shoe, causing her unnecessary suffering and injury to her health.
Briege Meehan was charged with multiple counts of child cruelty and assault.
During the hearing, she pleaded guilty to the charges of child cruelty and two counts of assault.
The court was informed that seven other charges of sexual abuse remained on the books but were not pursued further, as the defendant’s guilty pleas on the assault and cruelty charges were deemed sufficient for sentencing purposes.
Meehan denied other allegations of neglect and abuse that were not presented in court.
In her testimony, Meehan admitted to wilfully assaulting her stepdaughter, actions that the prosecution described as causing unnecessary suffering.
The prosecution, after consulting with the Director of Public Prosecutions and the victim herself, agreed that there was no need for a trial on the remaining sexual abuse charges, which were left on the record.
Before sentencing, Meehan was released on continuing bail, with the judge cautioning her that her release should not be interpreted as an indication of the severity of the sentence she would receive.
The court sentenced her to nine months in prison, suspended for two years, reflecting the gravity of her actions but also considering her guilty pleas and circumstances.
Martin Meehan, her late former partner, was a prominent republican figure who was the first person convicted of IRA membership and later served as a Sinn Féin councillor.
He passed away in 2007.
The case has reopened wounds for the victim, who issued a statement asserting that the guilty pleas served as a vindication and a step toward closure after years of suffering.
She expressed hope that this legal outcome would finally bring an end to a traumatic chapter of her life, which had been kept hidden for many years.
The case has garnered significant media attention in Belfast, highlighting issues of child abuse, the long-lasting impact of past traumas, and the importance of justice for victims of abuse, regardless of the passage of time.
