Limerick father who dangled children from fifth floor balcony put on probation

A man who dangled his three young children from the fifth floor of a city centre apartment block in Limerick as passers-by watched in horror, has been put on probation.

The man, 55, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty at Limerick District Court to intentionally or recklessly endangering his children, all under the age of eight, at his apartment on January 25 last.

Defence solicitor Sarah Ryan said her client had been minding his three children, who were all under the age of eight.

As they played on the balcony, the father fell asleep. The children, as a result, were unsupervised for around an hour. When he was alerted by neighbours to the danger the children were in, he got up and dangled them over the balcony. Passers-by alerted gardaí.

Ms Ryan said his actions were done “to scare, educate and chastise” the children about the dangers of climbing the balcony. She said the man has undergone several parenting courses and has also moved to a bungalow.

Judge Marian O’Leary had ordered a pre-sanction sentencing report from the Probation Services and on receiving it, she put the man on probation for six months.