THE 11-year-old St Ann girl who was reportedly sexually molested by the 63-year-old common-law husband of her grandaunt, is to be released into the custody of her father.

"They [social worker] called me this morning and said I should come to the courthouse where they will deliver her to me," the father told The Gleaner yesterday.

The child was admitted to the St Ann's Bay Hospital over a week ago on suspicion that she was pregnant for the accused. According to the father, tests conducted at the hospital proved that the child was not pregnant.

Welcome news

He said that was welcome news to himself, the child and her mother. The father also said he is relieved that his daughter appears to be in a better state of mind following the ordeal.

"Me kinda feel better now, because it stress me out bad from the other day and tomorrow I will feel better when I get her," the 46-year old father said.

The father said his daughter is happier now that she was going to live with him. "She stop feeling the pain. She is happy and all right," he said.

Last week, The Gleaner reported the story of the 11-year-old from St Ann who was reportedly being sexually molested by the accused. She had been living with him and her grandaunt since she was nine months old.

The child has been taken to a health centre in the parish after complaining of severe bellyache, where a doctor reportedly told the mother that the child was three to four months pregnant. However, after being admitted to the St. Ann's Bay Hospital that night, that report was disputed.

The 63-year-old accused, who was arrested on Monday remains in custody while the authorities conduct their investigations.

Big hug

In the meantime, the father, who also lives in St Ann, said despite the fact that his daughter was living with her grandaunt, she would often spend time with him and his family.

"The last time she come by me, my other babymother tell me say she hug her like she don't want to leave and say she want come live with us," the father said.

He said his common-law wife had surmised that the child had something to tell her, which could possibly have been the abuse to which she was reportedly subjected at the hands of the 63-year-old common-law husband of her grandaunt.

anastasia.cunningham@gleanerjm.com