A 39-year-old woman from Perthshire has been convicted of multiple charges of assaulting and neglecting children under her care, following a trial at Perth Sheriff Court. The deeply concerning revelations brought to light a pattern of abuse spanning over a decade, leaving a profound impact on the affected young lives and raising serious child welfare concerns across the Perth and Kinross area.
During the intense legal proceedings, jurors heard harrowing accounts detailing Danielle McKenna’s criminal behaviour. Among the most disturbing incidents, McKenna was found guilty of forcefully submerging one child’s head into a sink brimming with scalding water and kitchen crockery. This was just one instance in a series of physical assaults, which also included repeatedly striking and punching the child on the head and body, and using a hairbrush as a weapon against them. Severe Neglect Uncovered
Beyond the direct physical violence, the court established McKenna’s guilt in the wilful neglect of four children, whose identities remain protected for legal reasons. Evidence presented highlighted a consistently deplorable living environment in various properties across Perth and Kinross. The premises were described as being in a constant state of filthy disarray, characterized by the persistent presence of mouldy food, unwashed dishes, and towering piles of dirty laundry. Basic necessities were severely lacking; children were provided with only limited food and were denied fundamental hygiene items such as toothbrushes and toothpaste, underscoring a systemic failure to provide even the most basic standards of care.
Adding to the climate of fear and deprivation, McKenna was found to have regularly threatened the older children, coercing them into cleaning the squalid conditions and intimidating them should they fail to comply with her demands. This created an atmosphere of terror, where the children were not only physically and emotionally vulnerable but also burdened with responsibilities far beyond their years. Defence Dismissed by Jury
Throughout the trial, McKenna attempted to refute the extensive evidence presented against her. She argued that photographs depicting the severely unsanitary living conditions were merely snapshots taken ‘on a bad day,’ an explanation the jury unequivocally rejected. Furthermore, she contended that the children and other witnesses who bravely testified against her were fabricating their accounts. When questioned about her behaviour, McKenna attributed her frequent shouting, swearing, and screaming to being ‘half Irish, half Glaswegian’ and living with ADHD, claiming her actions were simply a matter of being ‘very loud’ rather than abusive. This defence, however, did not persuade the jury.
After careful deliberation spanning approximately four hours, the jury delivered a verdict of guilty on five of the six charges. This included charges relating to specific attacks on a young boy from his third birthday onwards, involving repeated strikes to his head and body, as well as grabbing and pushing. A second girl, aged between seven and ten, was also subjected to repeated assaults, being struck on the head with a hairbrush.
The court also found McKenna guilty of threatening and abusive behaviour, marked by persistent shouting, screaming, swearing, uttering derogatory remarks, and issuing threats of violence, all contributing to the hostile and unsafe environment for the children.
The sentencing for McKenna has been deferred until December to allow for the preparation of comprehensive social work background reports. She has been released on bail in the interim. This case serves as a stark and distressing reminder of the critical need for vigilance and support systems within our communities to protect the most vulnerable among us.
During the intense legal proceedings, jurors heard harrowing accounts detailing Danielle McKenna’s criminal behaviour. Among the most disturbing incidents, McKenna was found guilty of forcefully submerging one child’s head into a sink brimming with scalding water and kitchen crockery. This was just one instance in a series of physical assaults, which also included repeatedly striking and punching the child on the head and body, and using a hairbrush as a weapon against them. Severe Neglect Uncovered
Beyond the direct physical violence, the court established McKenna’s guilt in the wilful neglect of four children, whose identities remain protected for legal reasons. Evidence presented highlighted a consistently deplorable living environment in various properties across Perth and Kinross. The premises were described as being in a constant state of filthy disarray, characterized by the persistent presence of mouldy food, unwashed dishes, and towering piles of dirty laundry. Basic necessities were severely lacking; children were provided with only limited food and were denied fundamental hygiene items such as toothbrushes and toothpaste, underscoring a systemic failure to provide even the most basic standards of care.
Adding to the climate of fear and deprivation, McKenna was found to have regularly threatened the older children, coercing them into cleaning the squalid conditions and intimidating them should they fail to comply with her demands. This created an atmosphere of terror, where the children were not only physically and emotionally vulnerable but also burdened with responsibilities far beyond their years. Defence Dismissed by Jury
Throughout the trial, McKenna attempted to refute the extensive evidence presented against her. She argued that photographs depicting the severely unsanitary living conditions were merely snapshots taken ‘on a bad day,’ an explanation the jury unequivocally rejected. Furthermore, she contended that the children and other witnesses who bravely testified against her were fabricating their accounts. When questioned about her behaviour, McKenna attributed her frequent shouting, swearing, and screaming to being ‘half Irish, half Glaswegian’ and living with ADHD, claiming her actions were simply a matter of being ‘very loud’ rather than abusive. This defence, however, did not persuade the jury.
After careful deliberation spanning approximately four hours, the jury delivered a verdict of guilty on five of the six charges. This included charges relating to specific attacks on a young boy from his third birthday onwards, involving repeated strikes to his head and body, as well as grabbing and pushing. A second girl, aged between seven and ten, was also subjected to repeated assaults, being struck on the head with a hairbrush.
The court also found McKenna guilty of threatening and abusive behaviour, marked by persistent shouting, screaming, swearing, uttering derogatory remarks, and issuing threats of violence, all contributing to the hostile and unsafe environment for the children.
The sentencing for McKenna has been deferred until December to allow for the preparation of comprehensive social work background reports. She has been released on bail in the interim. This case serves as a stark and distressing reminder of the critical need for vigilance and support systems within our communities to protect the most vulnerable among us.