Courts / Dublin / Report
Care work student may have child neglect charges dropped
Summary
A 34‑year‑old health‑care student, who had driven home drunk from a friend's party with her four‑ and six‑year‑old children in the back seat, faced two child‑neglect charges and a refusal‑to‑give‑sample charge. Garda Lee Kelly stopped her car at about 4 a.m. on 1 September 2019 after noticing swerving and alcohol smell; she became abusive, shouted at her children, and refused a breathalyser. Tusla investigated and deemed the incident neglectful but found no other welfare issues; the children remained with her. She pleaded guilty to the neglect charges. Judge Melanie Greally, after hearing mitigating evidence, set a headline sentence of nine months but indicated a six‑month sentence would be appropriate.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Care work student may have child neglect charges dropped. Charges or matters: two charges of child neglect contrary to the Children Act, 2001 and one of refusing to give a sample, contrary to the Road Traffic Act, 2010. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- September 1, 2019 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2022-05-05 Publication
Why: She said that because the woman was "generally speaking a very good mother to her children", she believed it would be too harsh to leave her with a conviction for child neglect. CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: two charges of child neglect contrary to the Children Act, 2001 and one of refusing to give a sample, contrary to the Road Traffic Act, 2010 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Judge Greally disqualified the woman from driving for four years in relation to refusing give a sample to gardaí.
Places mentioned
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
Topics
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