‘child neglect’ | 

Father accused of abandoning infant daughter in car in Dublin for 10 hours

The baby was found on west Dublin following a two-hour search

Tom Tuite

Yesterday at 15:29

A father charged with child neglect after his infant daughter was allegedly abandoned in a car for 10 hours in Dublin has been remanded on continuing bail pending possible further charges.

A man raised the alarm in Clondalkin Garda Station at around 2 am October 21, resulting in a major Garda operation.

The baby was found on west Dublin following a two-hour search. She was taken to Temple Street Children’s Hospital and given the all-clear.

The accused, who is in his 30s and cannot be identified due to reporting restrictions, was charged with an offence under section 246 of the Children Act.

It is alleged he assaulted, neglected, ill-treated, neglected or abandoned a child in a manner likely to cause suffering injury.

The offence can, on conviction in the District Court, carry a 12-month sentence and a fine or up to seven years imprisonment if the case is dealt with at the Circuit Court level.

He cannot be named to protect the child’s legal right to anonymity and faced his second hearing when he appeared before Judge Gerard Jones at Blanchardstown District Court on Monday.

Detective Garda Cian Logan said he had submitted a file to the Director of Public Prosecutions, and directions were awaited.

He had said earlier that there could be additional charges.

Judge Jones ordered the accused to appear again in March.

He is to reside at his current address, be contactable by phone 24 hours a day, and sign on at his local garda station once a week.

Section 93 of the Children Act applies to media coverage of the case. The legislation states, “No report shall be published or included in a broadcast which reveals the name, address or school of any child concerned in the proceedings or includes any particulars likely to lead to the identification of any child concerned in the proceedings.”