A 32-year-old Cypriot woman has been remanded in custody in Larissa following shocking child abuse allegations involving her two young children, aged 5 and 6. The testimony of the attending physician at Larissa General Hospital has sparked public outrage, revealing disturbing details about the children’s physical condition and the family’s living circumstances.
According to the doctor’s deposition, the events unfolded last Saturday (17 May) when the mother brought her children to the hospital, reportedly due to the younger child suffering from a cough and breathing difficulties. During examination, the physician discovered extensive skin lesions—some fresh, others older and crusted—on the girl’s arms and legs. Suspicion of abuse was immediately raised, particularly as the mother began offering explanations before being asked.
The woman claimed the marks were caused by intense itching and that she couldn’t afford to see a doctor. She also described herself as a domestic violence survivor, recently relocated from a women’s shelter to a home provided to her in the Terpsithea district of Larissa. She added that she was unemployed due to neurological health issues.
Further examination of the 6-year-old boy revealed visible injuries on his arms and a bruise on his right cheek. The doctor also noted developmental delays in both children and communication difficulties, especially regarding their speech.
When the doctor questioned the children privately, the young girl indicated—both by nodding and verbally—that her father had hit both her and her mother. She even mimed a gesture resembling the extinguishing of a cigarette to explain how one of her injuries occurred. Her brother, however, denied it. When asked who had caused the facial injury, the boy said, “Giannis.”
The name Giannis raised concerns about whether the children were referring to their biological father or another male figure they viewed as paternal. The mother later said Giannis was a local man who helped them around the house.
Despite denying any wrongdoing, the mother’s behaviour was described as increasingly anxious and defensive. At one point, when the doctor asked the children if they were hungry and they said yes, the mother showed indifference, prompting the doctor to buy them a snack.
The mother eventually gave her own account of events to authorities. She accused her ex-husband of visiting their home on Saturday 10 May while she was alone with the children. Initially calm, he allegedly became violent and, while holding a lit cigarette, assaulted all three of them.
She claimed the children were burned—on the hands, neck, and face—and that she too sustained burns to her right arm. The attack, she said, lasted around 20 minutes. According to her, her ex-husband has a history of violence and drug use, and had previously abducted her and the children and taken them to Livadeia under false pretences.
Greek police continue to investigate the case. The children remain under protective supervision, and social services have been alerted. The father is expected to be summoned for questioning in the coming days.
Also read: Children in Larissa hospitalised with cigarette burn marks + Update
