'I screamed my baby was in the car'

A MAN has been sentenced to seven years in prison for hijacking a car with a five-month-old baby in the back.

- CLAIRE HENRY

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard Noel Ryan, 48, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to one count of hijacking a vehicle and one count of abduction of a child.

The incident happened at Mountjoy Square, north inner city Dublin, on September 23, 2024.

Ryan has 41 previous convictions including for theft, aggravated burglary, road traffic matters and misuse of drugs.

Judge Martin Nolan said yesterday the child was left by itself for the guts of three hours.

He said the baby's parents "had to endure what no parents should have to endure".

Judge Nolan said: "I understand he [Ryan) was in the throes of addiction at the time, but he put himself in that position." The judge said "he was reckless in regard to the child". He noted that "anyone informed by conscience would have put the car in some place it could have been found more easily".

Judge Nolan set a headline sentence of nine and a half years; after considering the mitigating factor, he sentenced him to seven years in prison backdated to when Ryan went into custody on this matter.