High Court clears way for public order trial over child left in car at Liffey Valley
A man, whose name is protected by a reporting restriction to safeguard his children, was arrested in the Liffey Valley Shopping Centre, Dublin, on 25 August 2019 after an altercation with gardaí who had been told his two-year-old son was left alone sleeping in his parked car while he went shopping. He was charged with threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour in a public place, failure to comply with a garda direction, and refusal to give his name and address, all of which he denied. His attempt to bring a private prosecution against the gardaí was refused by the District Court and upheld by the Court of Appeal. On 7 October 2026, the High Court refused his application for a separate preliminary hearing, clearing the way for his public order trial in Blanchardstown District Court.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court7 Oct
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- A man was arrested after an altercation with gardaí following a complaint that his two-year-old son was left alone sleeping in his parked car while he went shopping.
- Where
- The incident occurred at the Liffey Valley Shopping Centre, Dublin.
- When
- The incident occurred on 25 August 2019.
- Charges
- He was charged with threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour in a public place, failure to comply with a garda direction, and refusal to give his name and address.
- In court
- The District Court refused his application for a private prosecution against the gardaí, and the Court of Appeal upheld that refusal.
- On 7 October 2026, the High Court refused his application for a separate preliminary hearing, clearing the way for his public order trial in Blanchardstown District Court.
- Other details
- He denied all charges and sought video and audio recordings from the shopping centre, the Garda station, and any garda recording device.
- The DPP stated that disclosure obligations had been complied with.
- A reporting restriction on naming the man to protect his children remains in force.
15 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe incident arose from a complaint to gardaí about his two-year-old child being left alone sleeping in his car while he went shopping. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe man was arrested in the Liffey Valley Shopping Centre, Dublin. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe incident occurred on 25 August 2019. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeHe was charged with threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour in a public place. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeHe was charged with failure to comply with a garda direction. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeHe was charged with refusal to give his name and address. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe High Court cleared the way for the hearing of a prosecution against a father for public order offences. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe private prosecution application was refused by the District Court. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe Court of Appeal dismissed a challenge to the refusal of the private prosecution. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe public order case was to be heard in Blanchardstown District Court. (irishtimes.com)
- otherHe denied the charges. (irishtimes.com)
- otherHe sought to bring his own private prosecution against the gardaí over three wrongful prosecutions from the incident. (irishtimes.com)
- otherHe wanted video and audio recordings from the shopping centre and Garda station, together with any recording from a garda recording device. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe DPP said disclosure obligations had been complied with. (irishtimes.com)
- otherA reporting restriction on naming the man to protect his children will remain in force. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 7 Oct2026Court clears way for hearing following row sparked by complaint about child alone in car
Judge Garrett Simons in the High Court refused the man's application for a separate preliminary hearing before his criminal trial in Blanchardstown District Court. The man is unnamed under a reporting restriction to protect his children. His earlier private prosecution against the gardaí was refused by the District Court and the refusal was upheld by the Court of Appeal.
accused, male