MARIYANA ASENOVA FROM LURGAN SENTENCED TO ONE YEAR FOR CHILD CRUELTY IN CRAIGAVON AND DUBLIN

Mariyana Asenova, a woman from Lurgan, was formally sentenced to a one-year imprisonment term at Craigavon Crown Court for her involvement in severe child cruelty cases. The presiding judge, Donna McColgan KC, outlined the terms of her sentence, stating that Asenova would serve half of her time behind bars and the remaining period on license. Considering her time already spent in remand, she is expected to serve approximately one month before being released under supervision.

The court proceedings revealed that Asenova, whose current address was not publicly known at the time, had previously pleaded guilty to eight separate charges of cruelty to a child under the age of 16. These offenses occurred on April 14, 2022, and included acts of abandonment and neglect towards her children, who ranged in age from just one year old to ten years old at the time.

According to the court, early on the morning of the incident, Asenova claimed she was heading to a hospital appointment. However, it was later established that she was actually driven to Dublin Airport by a neighbor. From there, she flew to Germany to meet her new partner, an act that drew police attention and concern.

The police investigation was triggered after one of her children, left alone at home for approximately three hours, went out to purchase food and nappies. The investigation uncovered a distressing scene at her residence, described as filthy and unkempt. The house was filled with a strong odor, with sticky floors, scattered rubbish, and minimal food supplies. The only bedding with sheets was on her bed, highlighting the neglect and poor living conditions.

During the court hearing, Asenova admitted her guilt and expressed remorse for her actions. Her legal representative indicated that she felt a profound sense of shame. Had the case proceeded to trial and resulted in a conviction, her potential sentence could have been as long as 18 months. However, due to her guilty plea, the sentence was reduced to 12 months, with her expected time served being approximately one month, including credit for her remand period.