Mother of boy, 8, found at Cork garage at night without pants charged with child cruelty

A 49-year-old woman denies a charge of cruelty to a child where it was alleged that the eight-year-old boy was walking around the forecourt of a garage at night without wearing pants.

She is also alleged to have told gardaí they could take him into care as far as she was concerned.

The allegations in the case were outlined to see if Judge Catherine Ryan would accept jurisdiction.

It was alleged by Sergeant John Kelleher that the incident occurred at around 8pm on November 10, 2022, at a petrol station in Cork.

Gardaí informed the woman that the partially undressed child was going to be taken into care under the Childcare Act. Sgt Kelleher said it was alleged that the woman said: “Take the f***ing child, I don’t care.” 

Judge Ryan accepted jurisdiction to deal with the case at district court level.

Frank Buttimer, solicitor, said the defendant would be contesting the case and he asked for it to be adjourned so that a date could be set for a hearing of the matter.

Judge Catherine Ryan adjourned the case until April 14 when it is anticipated that a date will be set for a hearing of the case at Cork District Court.

The woman charged with cruelty is not be named in order to prevent identification of the child, as required under the Children’s Act.