A woman who failed to protect her son from his abusive father has been jailed for 18 months.

She had claimed his allegations of physical and sexual abuse at the family home in Waterford were all lies.

In May, the 37-year-old woman, who cannot be named to protect her son’s identity, was convicted on one count of child cruelty.

The abuse began when the boy was just six years old and continued until he was taken into care just before his eighth birthday in 2011.

Last week, his 64-year-old father was jailed for 14 years for raping him nine times.

Mr Justice Robert Eager said the mother failed to protect her son even though she was aware of the extreme sexual violence inflicted on him.

The court heard she has shown little or no emotion since her conviction – no anger, guilt or sadness and she has not shed any tears.

She maintains her innocence and claims her son, who is now aged 13 and living in a specialised facility in the UK, lied while giving evidence in court.

Mr Justice Eager accepted she came from an “appalling” and abusive background before handing down a three-year sentence with the final 18 months suspended.