Quote Originally Posted by Banquo's Ghost
I think your expectations are spot on, but it can be a difficult judgement.

For example, I once saw a mother lathering the daylights out of her five-year old child outside a shopping centre. Not just a smack, but full blooded blows to head and body. Most people hurried by.

I called the Garda on my mobile and went up to the woman and demanded that she stop. She started to bellow abuse at me and now, the general public seemed interested to intervene - on her behalf. By the time the gard had arrived, it was I who was being characterised as the criminal for "interfering" in the right of a parent to chastise their child.

Social services face this kind of thing on a daily basis - on the one hand derided for not saving a child from this kind of horrendous abuse, and the next accused of breaking up families on flimsy evidence. It's not made any easier when abusers are often very clever at covering up and often have plausible explanations.

Who would want to shop their neighbour for suspected child abuse when one would know that might mean the destruction of a family - a family that might seem terribly normal most of the time?

That said, in the context of the news item, I read it as if all four were actually complicit in the abuse, so none would be likely to complain.
Well okay in this vein you make a valid point about 1. social services dillema, and 2. as a private person what should be your recourse.

I have a neibhor who lays into there kid from time to time and I can hear them, and I live a fair distance from them and the street. I would hope that if that kid is getting it bad that the mother or sibling or someone else within the family structure would at least make the call.

Your points are fair though.