Skip to content

Police officers reunited with baby born in back of car

Julie McCulloughBBC News NI
PSNI Two police officers are looking at the camera. The one on the left is slightly shorter. They are both in full PSNI uniform, green top and flack jackets. They both have short brown hair and are smiling. The police officer on the right is holding a new born baby in a white baby grow with a blue and white blanket wrapped around himPSNI
Constables Campbell and Lavery meet newborn baby Benedyct for the second time

Two police officers who were first on the scene as a woman gave birth in the back of a car have been reunited with the baby they helped care for.

They had been taking part in a routine traffic operation in Ballymena, County Antrim, on 9 October when they were approached by the father running towards them.

Constable Campbell, who has been in the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) for almost two years, said it wasn't something they were expecting.

"I think, obviously, you maybe worry somebody has had a breakdown or somebody needs help, but certainly not that his wife is in labour."

Constable Lavery, who joined the PSNI in May 2025, said they had planned to get the mum to the hospital but things moved quicker than expected.

Lavery said by the time they made it to the car the dad told them that "the baby was coming".

"She had basically already delivered the baby in the back of the car, she had been absolutely amazing."

'Absolutely amazing'

A man with short brown hair is smiling at the camera. He is wearing a green police uniform and is standing in front of a red brick building and you can see police cars parked in the background.
Campbell says they had been on the night shift when they were approached by the dad along the road

For Campbell, what had started as a "very mundane night shift" with "very little happening" had changed dramatically.

It was half-past-three in the morning, it was raining and it was cold. The officers had been on duty on the Raceview Road.

As Campbell explained, "it's a very exposed piece of road, it wasn't a particularly nice place to be that time of night".

'Please tell me that baby's cried'

A man with short brown hair and a trimmed beard is smiling at the camera. You can see he is wearing a green police uniform and is standing in front of some police cars in the background
Dad of one Lavery was worried about the risks of a birth along the side of the road

As a dad himself, Lavery knew there were risks involved, and repeatedly checked with Campbell if the baby had cried.

"We needed that baby to cry," he explained. "And then my colleague said the baby had cried, which was good news, but the worry moved on to mum."

All he had on hand was a high-viz jacket that he got from the police car, which he put round the baby and mum to keep them warm.

Campbell said the mum did all the hard work.

"There was absolutely no hesitation, she lifted the baby up and made sure the baby was ok."

He said all they could do was provide a bit of comfort and try to get someone from the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service there as quickly as possible.

'The one I'll always remember'

Both police officers have had the opportunity to meet baby Benedyct for the second time this week.

"It was great to go back and see that everybody was doing well," said Campbell.

"He's just so small and dainty and good to get a cuddle off him," explained Lavery.

Although he added: " I hope it's not a situation I have to probably be in again."

For Campbell, it's something he knows he'll never forget.

"It's the one I'll always remember, it's probably one most people would remember.

"It's not something that happens, that I've heard of before. A lot of people who have been in the police for years have never experienced it."