Boy left behind during creche day out

A father is to write to a judge who dismissed charges of negligence against a creche owner after his little boy was left behind by staff on an outing.

The pre-schooler managed to exit the creche and walk through busy Dublin streets before he was spotted by gardaí.

The dad, who said he was shocked and upset by the judgment, is requesting the HSE, through his solicitor, to consider appealing the decision.

But Judge Anthony Halpin described the HSE case against the creche owner as “nothing short of disgraceful” and said creche employees were subjected to “Gestapo-like interrogation” by HSE inspectors.

The HSE brought charges against the owner of the Merrion Montessori and Nursery, Sarisha Kelly of Washington Park, Rathfarnham, in relation to the incident, which happened on July 13, 2010.

The court heard staff at the creche on Herbert Street were taking 17 children on an outing to St Stephen’s Green. The staff did a head count as they were leaving and logged 17 children, but when they did a second count on the way to the park, they had only 16.

When a staff member got back to the creche it was discovered that the missing boy had managed to get out of the creche.

Gardaí found the boy 250 yards away after he walked up three busy streets.

The creche has since changed ownership.

Judge Halpin at Blanchardstown District Court dismissed all charges and awarded costs against the HSE.

The father told the Irish Examiner he was “shocked” and “upset” by the judgment and would write a personal letter to the judge.

He said he had asked his solicitor to write to the HSE to see whether it intended to appeal the ruling.

He described as “brilliant” the handling of the case by the HSE and gardaí.