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Judge tells mother she may as well put a loaded gun in front of child she put in unrestrained car seat

Summary

In a 2014 Balbriggan District Court hearing, Judge Dermot Dempsey reprimanded Margaret McDonagh, 44, for driving with a child under three in an unrestrained rear‑facing seat that faced forward. The judge likened the situation to "putting a loaded gun in front of the child" and expressed disbelief at her choice of seat placement. McDonagh was stopped on the M1 after her car tax had lapsed by six months. She pleaded guilty to non‑display of road tax and to failing to restrain a child. The judge fined her €50 for the tax offence and considered the child‑restraining charge, refusing free legal aid as the offences did not merit it. The court did not address any further legal proceedings beyond the fine and the judge's remarks.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Judge tells mother she may as well put a loaded gun in front of child she put in unrestrained car seat. Charges or matters: non display of road tax and failing to restrain a child on June 30th, 2013. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• June 30th, 2013 Hearing Or Sentence
• 2014-04-03 Publication

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Stage Sentence

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Read the original CNI report