Woman pleads guilty to child cruelty charge in Cork court

A charge of child cruelty was admitted by a 40-year-old woman arising out of the investigation into the circumstances of a three-year-old child who walked alone to a grocery shop after 9.30pm, and telling the shopkeeper he was hungry.

The woman was arraigned at Cork Circuit Criminal Court on the cruelty charge and pleaded guilty to the offence.

Defence barrister, Mahon Corkery, asked for a probation report to be directed on the accused.

Judge Helen Boyle put sentencing back until the sessions of Cork Circuit Criminal Court commencing on February 8, 2027.

This scenario was described at an in-camera court hearing where the woman was first charged with neglect in respect of the child.

Sergeant John Kelleher outlined the allegations in the case.

“The three-year-old entered the store alone and complained to the shopkeeper that he was hungry.”

The shopkeeper immediately contacted the local garda station and officers arrived at the shop and looked after the child, notifying Tusla of the situation also.

Arrangements were made for the welfare of the child.

Later that night there was a phone call to the same garda station from the mother of the child expressing concern that the boy was missing.

Based on interactions on the phone, gardaí were concerned that she was intoxicated.

Sgt Kelleher said gardaí went to her home and found that she was intoxicated. The court was told that the child was now living with his father.

The accused said: “He has ADHD, he was looking for sweets.”

The charge states that on June 21, 2024, at the particular shop, being a person having custody of a child did wilfully neglect him in a manner likely to cause unnecessary effect on his wellbeing, contrary to the Children’s Act.