Kildare gardaí found child (8) in pyjamas with no seat belt and vodka, when woman was stopped for dangerous driving on M7

An eight year old child, not wearing a seat belt, was found in a car driven by a woman when it was stopped by gardaí.

Before Naas District Court was Josephine Connors, 36, whose address was given as 24 Loughlion Green, Kildare town.

She was prosecuted for dangerous driving on the M7 at Lewistown Naas on May 18, 2025. She was also prosecuted for refusing to provide a blood or urine sample on the same date at Naas garda station.

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Garda Stephen King said the woman veered across lanes into the hard shoulder and when the car was stopped the gardaí also found a litre bottle of vodka which was half empty.

The garda said they put the child into the patrol car and the woman, a learner driver, was detained.

The court heard the woman had 60 previous convictions, with 32 described as traffic related.

Defending solicitor Seamus Boyle said the defendant is a lone parent and she is caring for her three children.

“She is getting her life together,” Mr Boyle added. He said she has "certainly learned a lesson" and also said that the incident occurred during a period of “pure madness.” He said she has had a “difficult domestic life.”

“It’s one thing not caring for herself; it's another to drag her child into it,” commented Judge Desmond Zaidan.

The judge disqualified the woman four years for dangerous driving and he added a concurrent four year ban for refusing to provide a sample.