Links crèche, in Malahide, has been fined €1,000 for breaching childcare laws, while owner Deirdre Kelly walked free from court after the charges against her were dropped.
The charges relate to incidents dating back to February 2013, which were captured on camera and brought into the public forum via a Prime Time investigation.
Judge John O’Neill, sitting at the Dublin District Court, heard how some of the kids attending Links crèche had been shouted at, cursed in front of, and even “slammed into a chair”. It was revealed that “99%” of the alarming incidents were linked back to one particular member of staff who has since left the company.
Delivering his ruling, Judge O’Neill dropped the charges against Ms Kelly, saying that “no fault applies to her in any shape or form”. Meanwhile, 12 of the 24 charges brought against the crèche were withdrawn.
Handing down the fine, Judge O’Neill observed that the incidents at the centre of the investigation were “isolated”.
