Ireland Child cruelty sentencing adjourned in Tullamore
On 9 or 10 August 2025, a baby girl of about one year was left alone in a car seat in the back of a stolen car in a midlands town after a party where cocaine and alcohol were consumed. The child's mother had taken another woman's car keys and driven off with the baby in the back. A garda found the baby with no nappy on and her babygro soaked with urine, and she was taken to a neighbour's house where she drank two full bottles before being released to her maternal grandmother at Regional Hospital Mullingar. A 30-year-old man pleaded guilty to child cruelty and unauthorised use of a vehicle, while the child's mother previously pleaded guilty to car theft and ill treating a child. Sentencing for both defendants was adjourned to 18 November at Tullamore Circuit Court.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court5 May
2 reports - Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- A baby girl of about one year was left alone in a car seat in the back of a stolen car after a party.
- The child's mother took another woman's car keys and drove off with the baby in the back.
- Where
- The party was held in an apartment in a midlands town in Offaly.
- When
- The incident occurred on 9 or 10 August 2025.
- Cause
- Cocaine was taken and alcohol was consumed at the party.
- Investigation
- A garda saw a man walking away from the vehicle outside a house and found the baby alone in a car seat with no nappy on and her babygro soaked with urine.
- Other details
- The baby was taken to a neighbour's house, dressed in a nappy, and drank two full bottles before being released to her maternal grandmother at Regional Hospital Mullingar.
- The man had 131 previous convictions and was in prison for a separate offence.
- Reporting restrictions prevent publication of information that would identify the child.
- Charges
- A 30-year-old man was charged with child cruelty and unauthorised use of a vehicle.
- In court
- The man pleaded guilty to child cruelty and unauthorised use of a vehicle at Tullamore Circuit Court.
- The child's mother previously pleaded guilty to car theft and ill treating a child.
- Sentence
- Sentencing for both defendants was adjourned to 18 November.
30 statements extracted from the articles
- whatA baby was abandoned in a stolen car after a drink and drug fuelled party. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whatThe baby was found alone in a car seat with no nappy on. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whatThe baby drank two full bottles after being brought to a neighbour's house. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whatThe child's mother took another woman's car keys and drove off with the baby in the back. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whereThe group travelled to an apartment in a midlands town. (rte.ie)
- whereThe party was held in an apartment in a Midlands town. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whenThe incident happened on 9 August 2025. (rte.ie)
- whenThe incident took place on 10 August 2025. (offalyexpress.ie)
- causeCocaine was taken and alcohol was consumed at a party in the apartment. (rte.ie)
- causeCocaine was taken and alcohol consumed at the party. (offalyexpress.ie)
- investigationA garda saw a man walking away from the vehicle outside a house and through bushes. (rte.ie)
- investigationA guard later saw a man walking away from the vehicle outside a house. (offalyexpress.ie)
- chargeThe man was charged with child cruelty. (rte.ie)
- chargeThe 30-year-old man admitted charges of child cruelty and unauthorised use of a vehicle. (offalyexpress.ie)
- courtThe man pleaded guilty to child cruelty at a sentencing hearing. (rte.ie)
- courtThe co-accused, the child's mother, previously pleaded guilty to car theft and ill treating a child. (rte.ie)
- courtThe case was heard at a sentencing hearing at Tullamore Circuit Court. (offalyexpress.ie)
- courtFinalisation of sentencing was adjourned to 18 November. (offalyexpress.ie)
- courtThe child's mother had previously pleaded guilty to car theft and ill treating a child. (offalyexpress.ie)
- sentenceThe maximum sentence for child cruelty is seven years. (rte.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
- sentenceSentencing for the latest offences was adjourned to 18 November. (rte.ie)
- sentenceProbation and prison governor's reports were ordered. (rte.ie)
- otherThe child's mother drove off with the baby in the back of a stolen car. (rte.ie)
- otherThe garda found the baby alone in a car seat in the back of the car with no nappy on. (rte.ie)
- otherThe baby was taken to a nearby house, dressed in a nappy and fed. (rte.ie)
- otherThe baby was taken to Regional Hospital Mullingar and released into the custody of her maternal grandmother. (rte.ie)
- otherThe defence said the baby was not left alone for a long period of time. (rte.ie)
- otherThe man had 131 previous convictions and was in prison for a separate offence. (rte.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
- otherA probation report was ordered for the child's mother ahead of sentencing. (offalyexpress.ie)
- otherReporting restrictions prevent publication of information that would identify the child. (offalyexpress.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 6 May2026Tullamore Circuit Court hears baby left in back of car after drink and drug fuelled party
Court report from the Tullamore Circuit Court sentencing hearing. The article gives the incident as 10 August 2025 in one place and 9 August 2025 for the start of the events, so the date is taken from the 'incident on August 10' wording. Sentencing is adjourned to 18 November.
convicted, 30, maleconvictedvictim, 1, female - 5 May2026Man left baby in car to escape gardaí, court told
Sentencing hearing for a man who pleaded guilty to child cruelty; the court heard the incident happened on 9 August 2025 and adjourned sentencing. Gives the court details of the incident, the man's record and the co-accused's plea.
convicted, 30, maleconvicted, femalevictim, female