Saturday 31 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 17827Child endangerment; wilful assault of a child; neglect of a child; impeding apprehension or prosecution · 13 Mar 2021

Father admits endangerment, neglect and impeding murder prosecution over son's death

A four-year-old boy was found with serious injuries at a house in the southwest of the country on 13 March 2021 and died three days later in hospital in Dublin. His 33-year-old father, who cannot be named for legal reasons, reported the injuries as an accidental fall. On 21 March 2024 the father was arraigned before the Central Criminal Court and pleaded guilty to four charges, including endangerment, neglect and impeding the apprehension or prosecution of the person he knew or believed had murdered the boy. The judge said there was no basis not to proceed to sentence, a victim impact report has been ordered, and the father was remanded in custody until 10 June for a sentence hearing, while a co-accused's trial is listed for 1 May.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Convicted21 Mar
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • The victim was a four-year-old boy.
  • The boy died three days later in hospital in Dublin.
  • The suspect is a 33-year-old man, the boy's father, who cannot be named for legal reasons.
Where
The boy was found with serious injuries at a house in the southwest of the country.
When
The boy was found with serious injuries on 13 March 2021.
Cause
The father reported the boy's fatal injuries as the result of an accidental fall.
Charges
  • The father pleaded guilty to reporting the cause of the injuries as an accidental fall to a garda station, intending to impede the apprehension or prosecution of a person he knew or believed to be guilty of murder or another arrestable offence.
  • The father pleaded guilty to intentionally or recklessly endangering the child on 13 March 2021.
  • The father pleaded guilty to wilfully causing, procuring or allowing the child to be assaulted between 6 and 12 March 2021.
  • The father pleaded guilty to wilfully neglecting the child by failing to provide adequate medical aid on 13 March 2021.
In court
  • The father was arraigned before the Central Criminal Court on 21 March 2024.
  • The State will not proceed with count six, a third count of child cruelty, and the court will be asked to take count eight, a fourth count of child cruelty, into account.
  • The trial of the co-accused has been adjourned, the defence is seeking a psychiatric report, and the trial is listed for 1 May.
  • The judge said there was no basis not to proceed to sentence, and a victim impact report has been ordered.
Sentence
The father was remanded in custody until 10 June for a sentence hearing.
17 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe father admitted charges of endangerment, neglect and impeding the apprehension of the person who murdered the child. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whatThe child died three days later in hospital in Dublin. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whereThe child was found with serious injuries at a house in the southwest of the country. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whenThe child was found with serious injuries on 13 March 2021. (limerickleader.ie)
  • causeThe father reported the boy's fatal injuries as the result of an accidental fall. (limerickleader.ie)
  • chargeThe father pleaded guilty to reporting the cause of the injuries as an accidental fall to a garda station, intending to impede the apprehension or prosecution of a person he knew or believed to be guilty of murder or another arrestable offence. (limerickleader.ie)
  • chargeThe father pleaded guilty to intentionally or recklessly endangering the child on 13 March 2021. (limerickleader.ie)
  • chargeThe father pleaded guilty to wilfully causing, procuring or allowing the child to be assaulted between 6 and 12 March 2021. (limerickleader.ie)
  • chargeThe father pleaded guilty to wilfully neglecting the child by failing to provide adequate medical aid on 13 March 2021. (limerickleader.ie)
  • courtThe man was arraigned before the Central Criminal Court on 21 March 2024. (limerickleader.ie)
  • courtThe State will not proceed with count six, a third count of child cruelty. (limerickleader.ie)
  • courtThe court will be asked to take count eight, a fourth count of child cruelty, into account. (limerickleader.ie)
  • courtThe trial of the co-accused has been adjourned, and the defence is seeking a psychiatric report. (limerickleader.ie)
  • courtThe trial of the co-accused is listed for 1 May. (limerickleader.ie)
  • courtThe judge said there was no basis not to proceed to sentence. (limerickleader.ie)
  • courtA victim impact report has been ordered. (limerickleader.ie)
  • sentenceThe man was remanded in custody until 10 June for a sentence hearing. (limerickleader.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 21 Mar2024
    Convictedlimerickleader.ie, first report
    Father who said son's fatal injuries were due to accidental fall admits to impeding murder prosecution

    Guilty pleas to four charges at the Central Criminal Court on 21 March 2024. Sentencing is set for 10 June, and a victim impact report has been ordered. The co-accused's trial is listed for 1 May.

    convicted, 33, malevictim, 4, maleaccused