The mother of murdered toddler Tavia Michella Ximenes Da Costa has been refused compassionate bail to allow her to register with the Housing Executive to obtain an address for release.
Tavia was just two weeks off her second birthday when she was found dead in bed on October 13 last year.
Her mother’s partner Januaria Sarmento Ximenes (29) is charged with her murder.
The mother Suzi Augusta Jacinta Da Costa (21) is charged with manslaughter and along with her sister Suzana Da Costa Ximenes (24) jointly accused of causing the death of the child and knowing she died by an unlawful act.
All three, who resided at Windmill Court, Dungannon are accused of wilful ill-treatment.
A postmortem found Tavia died from brain injury caused by blunt force trauma.
She was covered in bruises including to her head and face, grip marks to her arms and a burn on her ear.
At the most recent sitting of Dungannon Magistrates Court lawyers for Da Costa applied for compassionate bail to allow her to be released for a short time to attend with the Housing Executive to register as homeless in order to obtain accommodation for release.
However before the defence got any further, District Judge Francis Rafferty stated: “I don’t accede to these applications. I’m aware some judges do, but I do not.
“I have been told in person by the head of the Prison Service that there is a facility within the prison to address such matters. There is no requirement to release from custody to allow that process to be actioned. That will remain my position until I am advised otherwise.”
The judge agreed to review the matter next month to ensure the prison has carried out the necessary action.