"Not calculated cruelty”

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32462, 24 November 1970, Page 2

"Not calculated cruelty”

(N.Z. Press Association) PALMERSTON NORTH, Nov. 23. A four-year-old girl was admitted to hospital with infected burns on the abdomen, and with gangrene in three toes, the Palmerston North Magistrates’ Court heard today. Before the Court were Hinemata Brenda Maria Scanlon, aged 32, married, and Eruera Lawrence Scanlon, aged 34, a railway labourer, who each pleaded guilty to a charge of wilfully neglecting the child in such a manner as to cause her unnecessary suffering.

Mr J. R. P. Hom, S.M., convicted and remanded them to February 1 next, releasing them on $2OO bail. Prosecuting, Detective Sergeant D. J. Dwan said that in July last the child went to stay with Scanlon, who was living in de facto relationship with his sister-in-law, Mrs Scanlon. The child remained with them until October 3 but when returned to her natural mother was found to have injuries to the face, bums to a leg, and extensive burns to the body.

The mother had been told that the child had injured her face falling down the back steps. She had been told that the bums had been caused when the child turned the hot water tap on and scalded herself, the first time while

being bathed, and another time when trying to get’ a drink from the bath tap at night. Scanlon had maintained that the child was in the habit of getting up at night to get a drink of water, and so he had turned the taps off hard. But one time the child had climbed into the bath. Scanlon had also told the mother that he had taken the girl to a doctor twice, but inquiries showed that he had taken her only to a chemist, Detective Sergeant Dwan said. The chemist recommended treatment by a doctor.

The mother had taken the girl to hospital, where she was immediately admitted. For the Scanlons, Mr T. A.

de Cleene said that if one had any feeling for children, one could not help having a feeling of revulsion from photographs produced. The facial injuries were caused by a fall down steps, but the bums were horribly disfiguring; and he understood that three of the tips of the child’s toes would have to be amputated. However, the Scanlons had not been practising calculated cruelty on the child. It was really a case of omission rather than commission. They had not really been as aware as some people of the need for medical care. The consequences to the child were disastrous, but he could not urge anything but pity on the Court, Mr de Cleene said.