Police: Framingham Couple Tied Up Grandson, Age 8

A former congressional candidate and his Framingham wife were in court last week on charges they tied up their grandson, age 8.

The couple told WHDH-TV that the abuse and endangerment charges are just a “misunderstanding.”

A police report indicated Thomas Tierney, 71 of Framingham, used extension cords to tie up the boy.

“There are allegations that we have a history of tying him up. We’ve never tied him up except for one instance,” Tierney told the Boston TV station. “He picked up a knife and said ‘grandma, I’m going to kill you.’”

Tierney said he and his wife Joanne, 72, feared for their safety.

Click here to watch the couple on WHDH-TV.

Last week, a Middlesex County grand jury indicted the Framingham couple three counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon on a child.

Both were charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon on a child (3 counts) and endangerment of a child.

No details were released at the couple’s arraignment last week, and the case report was impounded at superior court in Woburn.

Tom Tierney was a Republican candidate for the 5th Congressional district in 2012.