Drug addict ‘out of it’ when he took boy from shop

A drug addict who was “out of it” when he took a six-year-old boy from outside a shop before leaving him minutes later and taking his chicken nuggets has been jailed for three years.

David Ryan, aged 28, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to intentionally or recklessly taking the child without consent at Liffey St Upper on June 11, 2015. He has 112 previous convictions which were dealt with in the district court and include criminal damage, public order, theft, and fraud offences.

Sean Gillane SC, defending, said the State had agreed that the guilty plea was on the basis of reckless commission rather than intentional.