POLICE IN Northern Ireland have arrested a man on suspicion of child cruelty.
The arrest follows the emergence of a video on social media appearing to show a young boy driving a lorry on the M1.
Footage of the child driving the vehicle first surfaced on social media, prompting the Police Service of Northern Ireland to launch a formal investigation.
The alarming incident reportedly took place on the M1 Eastbound near Dungannon in Co Tyrone.
A 37-year-old man has now been arrested following an appeal by officers for help from the public in identifying both the child and man involved in the clip.
The man, who has not been named, was arrested in the Cookstown area of Co Tyrone.
He is in custody on suspicion of several offences, including aiding and abetting driving whilst disqualified by reason of age and cruelty to children.
PSNI investigates video of boy apparently driving lorry on motorway | https://t.co/IR2xFi02SF pic.twitter.com/I8TTFO2xkE
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) September 11, 2020
A PSNI spokesperson confirmed the arrest: "Police, investigating an incident in which a video was shared online of a young boy driving a lorry, have arrested a 37-year-old man in the Cookstown area on suspicion of a number of offences including aiding and abetting driving whilst disqualified by reason of age and cruelty to children.
“The man is currently in custody assisting officers with their enquiries."
