A Judge has described a case where a man and a woman tried to entice a 13-year-old boy into their car under the pretence that they were gardai as "one of the most disgraceful and outrageous" he has ever presided over.

Judge Tom O'Donnell, in Limerick District Court, jailed mother-of-four Vicky Naughton (32) and Gerard O'Callaghan (29) for six months, for what he described as "appalling" case.

Both defendants, with addresses at 70 Dromroe, Rhebogue, Limerick, were charged with section 2 assault and impersonating garda officers.

Detective Garda Cathal O'Neill recalled that at 11pm, on the night of June 22, 2007, Naughton was driving her car, accompanied by O'Callaghan, along Rhebogue Road, in Limerick, when they came across the 13-year-old boy walking along the road.

They told the boy they were gardai and searched the teen and took his mobile phone, change and keys. They then instructed him to get into their car.

At the same time, a friend of the teen's father came along and asked what was happening.

Naughton told the man they were gardai and handed the boy back his belongings.

Apologies

In the witness box, the boy's father says he watches his son every moment of the day since the incident.

"It is too late for apologies. My son will suffer every day for the rest of his life after this. Words and apologies at this stage would not take it away. It is too late, the damage is done," said the father.

"What happened was very, very serious. There was a child involved and when I heard what happened, I was devastated to think what might have been," he concluded.

Both defendants pleaded guilty to the charges before them.

 Barry Duggan

More

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/fake-gardai-jailed-for-six-months-over-teen-assault-1439768.html

©Independent.ie