A court has heard that a mother only reported her three-year-old son missing 35 minutes after he had left their home and walked alone to a shop late at night, where he told staff he was hungry, reports Breaking News.
At Cork District Court, Judge Mary Dorgan decided not to accept jurisdiction in the matter after gardaí clarified the delay between the boy leaving home and the mother’s call to gardaí.
Previously, Judge Dorgan heard evidence from Sgt John Kelleher, who said the boy entered a grocery shop by himself at 9.40pm on June 21st, 2024, reports Breaking News.
Sgt Kelleher said the child “entered the shop alone” and “complained to the shopkeeper that he was hungry.”
The shopkeeper contacted gardaí, who responded immediately and attended to the child. Tusla was informed and care arrangements were made. The child is now living with his father, reports Breaking News.
During a hearing held in-camera last Friday, Sgt Kelleher said the 39-year-old mother contacted her local garda station later that evening to report her son missing.
The garda who answered the call suspected the woman was under the influence of alcohol. When gardaí arrived at the home, they found the woman to be intoxicated.
At the initial court hearing, the woman spoke several times from the courtroom. At one point, she said, “He (the boy) has ADHD. He was looking for sweets,” reports Breaking News.
Judge Dorgan described the situation as a “serious matter” for “a three-year-old to be out loose around the city at 20 to 10 at night.”
The hearing was adjourned until today. Sgt Gearóid Davis informed the court that the boy had been out of the house for 35 minutes before the woman contacted gardaí, reports Breaking News.
Judge Dorgan, having learned this, declined jurisdiction in the case.
The matter will now go to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for directions. The woman was released on bail and will appear again at Cork District Court on December 4th.
She has been charged with wilfully neglecting her son in a way likely to cause unnecessary harm to his wellbeing, under the Children’s Act, reports Breaking News.
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