David Ryan jailed for taking child without consent

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

David Ryan was jailed for three years for taking a child without consent at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 7 March 2016. The offence occurred at Liffey Street Upper in Dublin on 11 June 2015.

Ryan, who was 28 and of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty on the basis of reckless commission rather than intentional conduct. The child was reunited with his father within 10 or 15 minutes after Ryan left him outside Arnotts.

The court heard that Ryan had severe addiction problems and was remorseful. Judge Melanie Greally noted that the child was never in danger and that Ryan had not acted with malicious intent before imposing the three-year sentence.