His ex-partner appeared at an in-camera family law sitting at Bray District Court seeking those maintenance arrears from him, which amount to €1,660.
His solicitor, Joe Maguire, told the court that his client had been out of work due to an injury, but has since returned.
Mr Maguire said he was instructed that his client paid €900 in arrears in January 2026, and that court staff indicated he owes a further €250.
He added that the respondent pays €240 per month and is unable to pay further maintenance, due to recently taking out a credit union loan, and having an outstanding bill of €33,000 for a vehicle, of which he has paid €8,000 since the previous hearing in January.
In evidence, the father said he currently has access to his daughter, whom he had not seen since early January.
He also claimed he wanted to make an application for a protection order, due to alleged messages from his ex-partner calling him a paedophile and making threats against his new girlfriend.
Solicitor for the ex-partner, Dermot Hickey, asked why the father had not paid maintenance since January. The respondent stated that he has not seen his child recently.
“It’s not Sky television, it’s not pay-per-view,” said Mr Hickey, before telling the court that the respondent “could pay €8,000 towards a car loan, but not maintenance for his child”.
The respondent said that the loan is automatically deducted from his wages.
Judge David Kennedy said that the defendant is “in danger of going to prison”. It was noted he will be facing up to 30 days in custody.
The respondent told the court he would be able to take out a loan in June 2026 to repay all arrears, including any that he amass in the meantime.
He said he was unable to raise the funds immediately. Judge Kennedy adjourned the matter until April 16, to allow him to pay the remaining arrears of €1,660.
Funded by the Court Reporting Scheme