'Who gives a s**t?': Cork man jailed for neglect of child, aged two

A two-year-old child was found in filthy and neglected circumstances in an apartment in Cork and when gardaí called and asked if there was a baby present, the intoxicated father replied: “Yeah, who gives a shit?” 

Now at Cork Circuit Criminal Court the 37-year-old has been sentenced to three years with the last 18 months suspended after he pleaded guilty to child neglect.

Judge Sinéad Behan said: “It is a privilege to have a child. Many people are not lucky enough to have a child. This man has very little insight into the seriousness of what occurred. 

"If members of the public had not seen it I don’t know if it would have come to light. There were no wilful injuries imposed, it is essentially a case of neglect. 

"He was subjected to his own childhood neglect — and this pattern has now established in his life. The probation report deems him to be a high risk of reoffending.” 

Garda Darren Lynn testified at Cork Circuit Criminal Court that after 11pm on April 15, 2024, the parents of a young child were seen drinking on the street together and in an intoxicated condition in Cork City. The woman became so unwell that she had to be removed to hospital by ambulance after midnight on April 16.

The father of the two-year old was then seen by members of the public as he walked along the street after midnight and he appeared to be intoxicated and aggressive. A number of people who observed this had serious concerns for the safety of the child and they alerted gardaí.

Officers with the assistance of the armed support unit went to the apartment which the man and the child were seen entering.

“We knocked several times and announced that we were police. When he opened the door, he was asked, ‘Is there a baby in the house?’ And he replied: ‘Yeah, who gives a shit?’ 

“The child was in a bed wearing a dirty nappy. The apartment was not clean and the floor was covered with rubbish. There was a smell of smoke and alcohol. There were no children’s toys, no clean clothes or food for the child. The kitchen was filthy with food thrown around.

“The child was immediately removed. There were serious welfare and health concerns for the child. When we arrived at the garda station we gave her fresh, clean clothes and a clean nappy. She was cleaned and given toys. She went into care with her aunt,” Garda Lynn said.

When the child’s father was questioned he said: “I had one beer and another one at home. I admit I was intoxicated. I didn’t answer the door because the child was asleep.” 

Elaine Audley, barrister, said the defendant and his partner had been caring for the child that day but his partner had to be taken to hospital. 

Ms Audley said the defendant’s own childhood was one of neglect where his father committed suicide and his mother was an alcoholic. The defendant was in a volatile relationship with his partner. 

He accepted that he had been neglectful of the child. 

Ms Audley added: “He did not have a great start himself. He is hoping to put his addictions behind him and hoping to find employment and rebuild his life when he gets out of prison.” 

To protect the identity of the child, there is a prohibition on identification of the defendant.