Infant boy put into emergency care after being found in car with intoxicated parents

A judge has ordered that a 12-week-old baby be placed in emergency foster care after hearing evidence the infant was at "significant risk" in its parents' care.

Limerick District Court heard this evening that Gardaí received an allegation from an anonymous tip-off last night, that an infant boy was travelling in a car with his parents, who were both intoxicated on drink and drugs.

Sergeant Gary Thompson, Newcastle West Garda Station, told the court that when he arrived at the scene, in a town in Co Limerick, he found the baby's mother and father were both drunk.

Sgt Thompson said he also smelled cannabis on the boy's parents.

Giving evidence, the mother admitted she had a "drink problem", but denied taking drugs.

She admitted consuming "two glasses of wine" last Wednesday after remaining sober for five months previously.

"I had a slip," she told the court.

The child's grandmother told the court she would look after grandson while her daughter received help for her alcohol dependency.

Judge O'Leary granted the emergency care order for a period of eight days.i