Father charged with child neglect after infant daughter allegedly abandoned in car

It is alleged accused assaulted, neglected, ill-treated, neglected or abandoned a child in a manner likely to cause suffering injury from Friday to Saturday in West Dublin

A man raised the alarm at Clondalkin Garda Station at about 2am on Saturday, resulting in a major Garda operation. Picture Denis: Minihane

A father charged with child neglect after his infant daughter was allegedly abandoned in a car for 10 hours in Dublin at the weekend has been remanded on bail pending directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions.

A man raised the alarm at Clondalkin Garda Station at about 2am on Saturday, resulting in a major Garda operation. The baby girl was found safe and well at about 4am, following a two-hour search, and 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, is charged with an offence under section 246 of the Children Act. He appeared at Dublin District Court on Monday.

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

Visibly upset, he sat silently on the defendant’s bench and has yet to enter a plea.

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.

Detective Garda Cian Logan told Judge Treasa Kelly the accused was charged at Clondalkin Garda Station on Sunday afternoon. He was handed a true copy of the charge sheet and “made no reply to charge after caution”.

The detective confirmed he had no objection to bail subject to conditions imposed without any defence objection.

A file is to be prepared for the DPP in relation to further charges.

Defence solicitor Cian McCann said there was “consent to as long a remand as reasonably possible”. 

Judge Kelly ordered the man to reside at his current address, provide gardaí with a contact number within 48 hours, “be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week”, and sign on at his local Garda station once a week.

Judge Kelly also noted there would have to be disclosure of evidence and ordered him to appear at Blanchardstown District Court on a date in January.

She agreed with Mr McCann that section 93 of the Children Act applied to media coverage of the case.

The solicitor said there was no application for legal aid by his client at this stage.