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The mum of a boy seriously injured in a hit-and-run has told how gardai have been protecting her home after a teenage driver was jailed.

Officers were posted to monitor the house in Cork on Thursday night after ugly scenes outside the city’s courthouse.

Nathan O’Reilly, 17, was jailed for four years and disqualified from driving for 20 years after admitting dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm

The unlicensed motorist was behind the wheel of a blue Mazda bought on Facebook for €100 when he struck the toddler. The car also no insurance, tax or NCT. Judge Sean O’Donnabhain said it was “inexplicable” O’Reilly had driven away leaving a child on the side of the road.

In an interview with the Neil Prendeville Show on Red FM, the boy’s mum Aishling told of the court case’s impact.

(Image: Provision)

She said: “It was a tough day, a long time coming. I’m glad to have it over with before Christmas.

“We were able to tell our story as well, how it affected us, how it affected our family.” Gardai have confirmed they were called to an incident outside the court on Anglesea Street on Thursday afternoon.

The family faced distressing scenes following the hearing and three men in their 20s were arrested for breaches of the Public Order Act.

Two of them are due to appear before the Criminal Courts of Justice on November 27 and the other on November 21.

Aisling also said her son’s condition is improving. She added: “He’s very strong physically, running, walking – he’s well able to communicate with us.

(Image: Google Maps)

“He does struggle with his speech, his processing is slower. He’s very good at talking about the here and now”.

At Cork Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Sean O’Donnabhain ordered that O’Reilly be named despite his juvenile status.

Aishling said: “He’ll be out before he is 21 probably – if anyone sees him near a car people have a right to know him.

“No matter what he got it would never have been enough.”