Woman who 'snatched' child given two-year probation order

Image caption, The incident took place at the Park Centre in Belfast

A woman who “snatched” a one-year-old at a west Belfast shopping centre has been given a two-year probation order.

Noeleen Creen, 38, of Andersonstown Road in Belfast, was sentenced for abducting the child inside the Park Centre before his mother grabbed him back.

The judge at Belfast Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday said it was “any parent’s worst nightmare”.

The incident happened on 20 May and reportedly led to the shopping centre going into temporary lockdown.

The court heard that CCTV footage showed her trying to beckon the boy out of one of the shops at the Donegall Road shopping centre.

Creen then went back into the store and carried him outside.

The boy's mother ran after her and stopped her.

Security staff called to the scene found Creen at a seating area in the shopping centre.

The defence lawyer claimed it was inflammatory for the prosecution to describe it as a snatching incident.

“She did take and remove the child from the store while it seems the mother’s back was turned,” the barrister said.

“But the child was immediately recovered.”

She said that her client acted while heavily intoxicated and argued the incident was less sinister than initial media reports suggested.

“She remained in the area… and was at a loss herself to explain during interviews exactly what was going through her mind,” the lawyer said.

'Convicted on a charge of child abduction'

Creen was convicted on a single charge of child abduction.

The judge was told the mother-of-four has struggled with long-term alcohol problems which have “fractured” relationships with her own children.

He viewed footage of the incident.

“She hangs about outside the shop trying to get the child to come out, and then goes in and lifts the child.

“I don’t think it’s outrageous to call it snatching the child out of the shop,” he said.

The judge added: “There is a victim in this as well who also went through an extremely traumatic ordeal.''

Based on recommendations in a pre-sentence report, he ordered Creen to complete two years of probation.

Mr Keown added: “Hopefully she gets the help that she needs.”