A man who left his two-year-old daughter at the side of a road has pleaded guilty to child cruelty. The man, who wanted revenge on his ex-girlfriend, then sent pictures of the crying baby to her mother before leaving.
The horrifying incident saw the child left crying by the road. She was discovered by concerned passersby at five o'clock in the morning. Two men returning from a night out in Letterkenny in August 2020 found the distressed child sitting with no shoes on and holding a baby bottle with milk outside a construction site, reports the Irish Mirror.
Police Sergeant Frank McDaid of Letterkenny Garda Station told the District Court of the man, whose identity has been protected, but is said to be in his 20s, left the child there.
The men who found her had thought the child may have escaped from a local house but those who answered their doors didn't recognise the little girl before police were called. The child was taken in to a patrol car before the distressed mother called to identify the girl.
She told police the child was left in the care of her father as the court learned he had become jealous that his ex-partner was out socialising and had called her on 'at least 30 occasions' during which he threatened that he would abandon the child.
At around 4.30am the man threatened his ex-partner to tell him where she was or he would leave the child. He took a picture of the child alone by the side of the road, sending it to the mother and her sister before driving off.
The accused was arrested by Gardai after CCTV footage emerged and when confronted he told them: "Aye, I was expecting this silly thing." Police interviewed him four times as he admitted he took the child out of bed and "let his temper get the better of him" by leaving her in Letterkenny.
He admitted that "anything could have happened to the child" but said he had been on medication for depression which he had stopped taking. A victim impact statement on behalf of the child's mother said the child still struggles to be around other people and will only stay with her and her parents.
The court was also told that the young man has not seen his daughter since the incident. Barrister for the accused, Ms Fiona Crawford, said her client was rightfully ashamed of what he had done and was very remorseful.
She added that he admitted that he had used the child as a pawn in a jealous relationship and that there was no excuse for it. He added that he really appreciated what the passing men had done in discovering his daughter, admitting that they had "saved her life."
Ms Crawford added: "He had lost the head and temper got at him. He was taking matters out on his child. She would have been scared and confused. There is no excuse and he is so disappointed, disgusted and ashamed of himself."
The judge, John Aylmer, will deliver the sentence next week as the case was adjourned.
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here .
READ NEXT:
Man who threw 'shotgun cartridges' at Buckingham Palace detained under Mental Health Act
Serial domestic abuser subjected ex-partner to shocking campaign of violence
Horrifying footage captures driver moments before he mows down and kills young woman
US man who identifies as British due to love of UK culture is obsessed with deep fried Mars bars
