Friday 30 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. 17509Child neglect · Co. Dublin

Woman given suspended sentence for neglect of daughter hospitalised with head lice

A 57-year-old woman from Dublin left her 15-year-old daughter home alone with €100 for food when she went to the UK in summer 2018. The neglect offences took place between 2013 and 2018, when the girl was aged between nine and 15, and the girl's hair was badly matted with head lice, leading to hospitalisation. The woman was arrested at a later date at her home address and pleaded guilty to one count of child neglect at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. On 23 April 2024 she was given a two-and-a-half-year sentence, suspended in full.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced23 Apr
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • The woman left for the UK in summer 2018 and left her 15-year-old daughter home alone with €100 for food.
  • The girl's hair was badly matted with head lice and she was hospitalised; the headline says twice, while the key facts say once as a teenager.
  • The girl said she had not showered for two months.
When
  • The neglect offences took place on dates between 2013 and 2018, when the girl was aged between nine and 15.
  • No exact incident date is given, only the summer of 2018 for the trip to the UK.
Where
The woman is from Dublin, and the case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Investigation
  • When questioned by gardaí, the woman admitted there were no shower facilities available for the girl.
  • The woman was arrested at a later date at her home address.
Charges
The woman pleaded guilty to one count of child neglect.
In court
Judge Martin Nolan said parents have a moral and legal obligation to care for their children.
Sentence
The judge imposed a sentence of two and a half years, suspended in full.
Cause
The defence said the woman left for the UK because she was having a meltdown and could not cope.
Other details
  • The judge described the offence as cruelty by omission rather than commission and said he believed the woman was not a bad person but was unable to cope at the time.
  • The girl's relationship with her mother has since improved and she is doing well.
14 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe woman left for the UK in summer 2018 and left her 15-year-old daughter home alone with €100 for food. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatThe girl's hair was badly matted with head lice, and she was hospitalised as a teenager. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatThe girl said she had not showered for two months. (thejournal.ie)
  • whenThe neglect offences were on dates between 2013 and 2018, when the girl was aged between nine and 15. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationWhen questioned by gardaí, the woman admitted there were no shower facilities available for the girl. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationThe woman was arrested at a later date at her home address. (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeThe woman pleaded guilty to one count of child neglect. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtJudge Martin Nolan said parents have a moral and legal obligation to care for their children. (thejournal.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge imposed a sentence of two and a half years, suspended in full. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThe defence said the woman left for the UK because she was having a meltdown and could not cope. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThe judge described the offence as cruelty by omission rather than commission. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThe judge said he believed the woman was not a bad person but was unable to cope at the time. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThe girl's relationship with her mother has since improved and she is doing well. (thejournal.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 23 Apr2024
    Sentencedthejournal.ie, first report
    Woman given suspended sentence for neglect of daughter hospitalised twice due to severe head lice

    Sentencing report: the woman pleaded guilty to child neglect and received a two-and-a-half-year sentence, suspended in full. The article gives no exact incident date, only the summer of 2018.

    convicted, 57, femalevictim, 15, female