Father receives suspended sentence for child neglect

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

A 35-year-old father received a fully suspended prison sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for neglecting his child in Dublin 15 on 21 October 2023. He cannot be named to protect the identity of his child.

He pleaded guilty to one count of child neglect. The proceedings were reported on 19 December 2024.

On 19 December 2024, Judge Sarah Berkeley imposed a two-year sentence, suspended in full for three years, and directed him to continue attending addiction treatment services.

The court heard that the baby was alone in a car for eight and a half hours. Garda Sergeant Cian Logan said the father presented to Clondalkin Garda station distressed, saying he had been drinking and could not remember where he had left the car. The child was found shivering with blue feet and later made a full recovery.

Judge Berkeley said the father had left home with the baby in the car to buy alcohol and drugs and had not immediately reported her missing. She described the mitigating factors as overwhelming, including his acceptance of responsibility, early guilty plea and expressions of remorse.