SHARMAINE MCAUGHEY FROM STENHOUSEMUIR ESCAPES JAIL AFTER HORRIFIC CHILD ABUSE IN FILTHY HOUSE

In August 2020, a woman named Sharmaine McAughey, residing in Stenhousemuir, was involved in a disturbing case of child neglect that drew significant attention from local authorities and the court system. The case centered around the appalling living conditions in her home, which was described as a 'house of flies' due to the overwhelming presence of insects and the pervasive filth that covered every surface.

According to reports presented at Falkirk Sheriff Court, police officers were initially called to McAughey’s residence in connection with an unrelated matter. During their visit, they observed that the blinds and curtains were drawn tightly shut, and the windows appeared to be heavily dirt-stained, suggesting a long period of neglect. It was also noted that information had been received indicating the presence of two young children, aged five and seven, living at the address.

Prosecutor Catherine Fraser explained that the police, upon noticing these conditions, decided to return the following morning to assess the situation more thoroughly. When they arrived at approximately 8:30 am, McAughey responded by opening the front door slightly before stepping outside and closing it behind her, clearly attempting to prevent the officers from seeing inside her home. She initially refused entry, becoming visibly agitated and requesting that the officers return at a later time, which was refused.

Eventually, McAughey consented to police entry after being informed that they would have to force their way in if necessary. Once inside, the officers were met with a pungent, overwhelming smell and a scene filled with swarms of flies that seemed to cover every surface of the house. The interior was in a state of extreme disrepair: the hallway was cluttered with rubbish, wallpaper was peeling off the walls in the living room, and a half-loaf of bread was discarded on the sofa, evidence of neglect and poor hygiene.

The presence of flies was pervasive, with swarms buzzing around the officers’ heads and covering all surfaces. The kitchen was particularly grim, with black rubbish bags filled with food waste and other debris strewn across the floor, indicating that they had been there for an extended period. The surfaces were coated with dirty dishes and clothing, and containers of food covered in fruit flies were also present, further emphasizing the unsanitary conditions.

Additional findings included mould in the fridge, the stairs covered in rubbish, and a bathroom that had not been cleaned for a significant amount of time. The shower cubicle was filled with black bags, plates, and various items, with a film of dirt on the shower walls suggesting it had not been used in a long time. The bedrooms were poorly furnished, with evidence of neglect such as dried faeces on quilt covers and walls, along with discarded alcohol bottles and cigarette packets scattered around. Exposed wiring at a plug socket posed a safety hazard, and a small fabric dog toy was found covered in fruit flies.

Ms. Fraser stated that the children would have been constantly exposed to flies crawling over them, and that the officers’ brief time inside the house was enough to demonstrate the severity of the neglect. It was also unclear where the children had been washed, but one was observed leaving for school looking clean and tidy, which was inconsistent with the conditions inside the house.

McAughey claimed she ensured her children attended school in a clean state and was aware of the house’s deplorable condition but chose not to alert the school to avoid drawing attention. Social workers were called to the scene, and McAughey was informed she was under arrest. She explained that she had inherited the house through a will and had been living there for four years.

Following the police visit, the children were placed in the care of their father under a voluntary arrangement, and they also changed schools. McAughey, aged 29 and a mother of two, pleaded guilty by letter to charges of ill-treating her children by exposing them to unsanitary and unsafe living conditions. The court heard that her actions constituted a serious breach of her responsibilities as a caregiver.

Sheriff Derek Livingston sentenced McAughey to a community payback order, which included two years of social work supervision, as an alternative to imprisonment. This case highlighted the extreme neglect and the urgent need for intervention to protect vulnerable children from such hazardous living environments in Stenhousemuir.