Two nursery workers in southern Hungary have been charged with endangering a minor after allegedly verbally abusing a three-year-old boy, repeatedly pulling him around and, in one incident, taping his mouth shut. Prosecutors are seeking suspended prison sentences and a permanent ban on both women working in professions involving children.
Child allegedly insulted and physically mistreated
The charges were announced by the Kaposvár District Prosecutor’s Office, which said the alleged incidents took place at a nursery in a village near Kaposvár, in Somogy County. According to the indictment, the two women, employed as a nursery educator and a childcare assistant, repeatedly mistreated the boy from November 2024 onwards.
They allegedly called him derogatory names, including terms equivalent to “disgusting”, “hateful” and even the f-slur, and repeatedly pulled him around as a means of disciplining him.
The most serious incident reportedly occurred during lunch, when the child crawled under a table. The childcare assistant allegedly became angry, led him to a bed and covered his mouth with a wide strip of adhesive tape. A few seconds later, she tore the tape off while the boy was crying.
Prosecutors said the child did not suffer physical injuries. However, they argued that both employees had seriously breached their professional duties and endangered the boy’s physical and emotional development.
Workers dismissed after incident came to light
The case reportedly took place at a nursery in Zselicszentpál, which opened in 2023. The incident came to light after a parent entering the building and another childcare worker allegedly witnessed the child’s mouth being taped.
The municipality subsequently filed a complaint, prompting a police investigation on suspicion of endangering a minor. The employer immediately terminated both women’s public-sector employment once the allegations emerged.
At the time, the village’s mayor, Katalin Szabó, told local news outlet Sonline that the employees had been hired with strong recommendations and that she had never imagined the nursery would face such a situation.
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Prosecutors seek permanent ban from working with children
The Kaposvár District Prosecutor’s Office has submitted the indictment to the Kaposvár District Court. It is seeking suspended prison sentences for both defendants and asking the court to permanently prohibit them from any profession involving the education, supervision, care or medical treatment of anyone under 18.
The charges have not yet resulted in a court verdict. The proposed professional ban would prevent the women from returning to a broad range of roles involving children if imposed by the court.
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