Case No. 1661Causing serious harm, assault causing harm, wilful ill-treatment of a child · Co. Cork · 4 Jan 2021
Father acquitted of shaking his infant daughter at Cork Circuit Criminal Court
A 31-year-old man was acquitted by a jury at Cork Circuit Criminal Court of charges including causing serious harm, assault causing harm, and wilful ill-treatment of his five-month-old daughter, allegedly caused by shaking her at their family home in Cork between November 2020 and January 2021.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court6 May
5 reports - Acquitted16 May
- Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports88 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe five-month-old girl had bruising to her face and body, a broken collarbone, and bleeding on her brain (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe father first told a social worker at CUH he had dropped his daughter accidentally, then in a subsequent interview said he had shaken the child (irishtimes.com)
- whatDr Moran said she did not believe the retinal bleeding could have occurred in an accidental fall (irishtimes.com)
- whatFurther tests in February and March 2021 and then in 2023 showed no damage, but a lifelong risk of retinal detachment remained (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe injuries included bruising to face, stomach, abdomen and buttock, a fractured collar bone, injury to deep soft tissue under the spine, blood on the surface of the brain, and bleeding behind the eyes. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatA grandmother visited the family home on January 4, 2021 and noticed the child was very upset and tired. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe parents brought the child to a GP service who then sent her to hospital. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe father was interviewed by a social worker in hospital and told her he had accidentally dropped the girl at home. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe father allegedly later stated that he had shaken the child. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatConsultant Ophthalmologist Dr Sarah Moran found extensive haemorrhage at the front of the retina, within the retina and underneath the retina in both eyes. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatDr Moran had concerns that there could be long lasting visual damage arising from the retinal bleeding. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe subdural haemorrhage was evidence of a searing or tearing of tissues connecting the right and left sides of her brain. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe injury is associated with abusive head trauma. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe child had been vomiting for eight hours before being brought to hospital. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe child had no history of trauma or falls. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe child presented with bruises on her face, cheek, stomach, abdomen and right buttock. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe child had abrasions on her left temporal area, her cheek and her nose. (irishtimes.com)
- whatAn X-ray revealed the child had suffered a broken collar bone. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe grandmother told the court the father faked photographs allegedly showing the infant sustained bruises while in her care. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe child had bruises on her face, cheek, stomach abdomen and right buttock, and abrasions on her left temporal area, cheek and nose. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe parents brought the child to hospital because she had been vomiting for eight hours. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe grandmother said the first photograph was fake and the child never had the bruise shown on her thigh. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe grandmother said the bruise in the second photograph was photoshopped in. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatDr Rosina McGovern said the child suffered a subdural haemorrhage, a fractured collar bone, blood on the surface of the brain and tearing of its connective fibres. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe grandmother told the court the father faked photographs showing bruises on the infant (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe child had bruises on her face, cheek, stomach, abdomen and right buttock (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe child had abrasions on her left temporal area, cheek and nose (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe parents brought the child to hospital after she had been vomiting for eight hours (irishtimes.com)
- whatTwo photographs of the infant were entered into evidence as defence exhibits (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe first picture showed a small bruise on one of the child's thighs (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe grandmother said the first photo was fake and the child never had that bruise (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe second photograph showed a scratch and a bruise on one of the child's thighs (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe grandmother said the child had a scratch but insisted there was no bruise (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe grandmother agreed the bruising was Photoshopped (irishtimes.com)
- whatDr Rosina McGovern said the child suffered a subdural haemorrhage, fractured collar bone, blood on the surface of the brain and tearing of connective fibres (irishtimes.com)
- whatDr McGovern said the injuries constituted serious harm (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe accused is a 31-year-old man (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe victim is a five-month-old infant (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe child was brought to Cork University Hospital on January 4, 2021 (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe child had bruises on her face, cheek, stomach, abdomen and buttock (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe child had abrasions on her forehead, cheek and nose (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe child had a fractured collarbone (irishtimes.com)
- whatA CT scan showed bleeding on the brain and behind the eyes (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe parents brought the girl to the local South Doc GP service and she was sent to Cork University Hospital (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe injuries are alleged to have been sustained while the girl was in the care of her father at her family home. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe alleged incidents occurred at the family home in Cork (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe State alleges the offences occurred over a six-week period between November 25th, 2020 and January 4th, 2021 (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe child was discharged from Cork University Hospital on January 18th, 2021. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe child was examined by doctors at Cork University Hospital on 4 January 2021. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe two photographs entered as defence exhibits are dated 15 February 2023 and 1 March 2023. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe child was examined at Cork University Hospital on 4 January 2021 (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe photographs are dated 15 February 2023 and 1 March 2023 (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe alleged incidents occurred over a six-week period between November 25, 2020 and January 4, 2021 (irishtimes.com)
- causeDr Moran said the injury could not have been sustained in an accidental fall as such bleeding was usually only seen in high velocity impacts such as car accidents. (irishmirror.ie)
- causeThe injury was caused by a back and forth acceleration and deceleration. (irishtimes.com)
- causeThe brain injuries were caused by a back-and-forth acceleration and deceleration movement (irishtimes.com)
- causeThe brain injuries were consistent with abusive head trauma or shaken baby syndrome (irishtimes.com)
- investigationConsultant paediatrician Dr Rosina McGovern gave evidence (irishtimes.com)
- chargeThe man is charged with causing serious harm to the child on January 4th, 2021 (irishtimes.com)
- chargeHe is charged with assault causing harm to the child between November 25th and December 15th, 2020 (irishtimes.com)
- chargeHe is charged with wilfully assaulting or ill-treating the child in a manner likely to cause unnecessary suffering (irishtimes.com)
- chargeHe is charged with assault causing harm to the girl between November 25 and December 15, 2020. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeThe man is charged with three offences relating to the care of the infant at their family home between November 25th, 2020, and January 4th, 2021. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeThe man denies causing serious harm to the child on January 4th, 2021. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeThe man denies assault causing harm to the child between November 25th and December 15th, 2020. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeThe man denies that he wilfully assaulted or ill-treated the child. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeThe father pleaded not guilty to counts of assault causing harm, assault causing serious harm and cruelty. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeThe father pleaded not guilty to assault causing harm, assault causing serious harm, and cruelty (irishtimes.com)
- chargeHe was charged with causing serious harm to the child on January 4, 2021 (irishtimes.com)
- chargeHe was charged with assault causing harm to the child between November 25 and December 15, 2020 (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe man is on trial at Cork Circuit Criminal Court charged with three offences. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe child was seen by a paediatrician at Cork University Hospital. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe case will continue before a jury of seven women and five men, presided over by Judge Dermot Sheehan. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe case is being heard at Cork Circuit Criminal Court before a jury of five men and seven women. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe grandmother was cross-examined by defence senior counsel Ray Boland. (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
- courtThe case will continue in front of a jury of seven women and five men. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtA 31-year-old man is on trial at the Circuit Criminal Court in Cork (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe case will continue before a jury of seven women and five men (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe jury unanimously found the man not guilty of the assault causing harm charge (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe jury returned majority verdicts acquitting him of the charges of causing serious harm and ill-treatment (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe trial took place at Cork Circuit Criminal Court (irishtimes.com)
- courtJudge Dermot Sheehan presided over the trial (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe trial lasted nine days at Anglesea Street courthouse in Cork (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe jury consisted of five men and seven women (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe accused denies all charges. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe child's parents offered no explanation for the bruises or abrasions. (irishtimes.com)
- otherA broken collarbone is very unusual in a five-month-old as they are not mobile. (irishtimes.com)
- otherDr McGovern ruled out the collarbone injury resulting from a fall from a table or changing mat. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 16 May2025Father accused of shaking his infant daughter walks free from court as jury acquits him of all charges
Jury acquitted the accused of all three charges; unanimous on assault causing harm, majority verdicts on serious harm and ill-treatment. Nine-day trial presided over by Judge Dermot Sheehan.
suspect, 31, malevictim, 5 months, female - 9 May2025Father charged with assaulting baby faked photos of bruises on child, court told
Grandmother cross-examined by defence counsel Ray Boland about two photographs allegedly faked by the father; Dr Rosina McGovern previously testified the child suffered a subdural haemorrhage, fractured collar bone, blood on the surface of the brain and tearing of connective fibres; trial ongoing before a jury of seven women and five men.
victim, 5 months, femaleaccused, 31, male - 9 May2025Grandmother of hospitalised baby tells court father faked photographs
Grandmother's cross-examination testimony that the father photoshopped bruises into two photographs dated February and March 2023; Dr Rosina McGovern's evidence of subdural haemorrhage, fractured collar bone and brain injuries; jury composition of seven women and five men.
victim, 5 months, femaleaccused, 31, male - 7 May2025Consultant had serious concerns infant suffered brain damage after finding brain bleeds, court hears
Reports testimony from consultant paediatrician Dr Rosina McGovern on the second day of the trial, detailing the infant's subdural haemorrhage, broken collarbone, spinal bruising and multiple bruises, as well as creche staff noticing a bruise on 15 December 2020.
victim, 5 months, femaleaccused, 31, male - 6 May2025Man pleads not guilty to assaulting five month old daughter
Reports the opening of the trial where the man pleaded not guilty to all three charges, with prosecution counsel outlining the evidence and a consultant ophthalmologist testifying that the retinal injuries were highly suggestive of shaken baby syndrome and could not have resulted from an accidental fall.
victim, 5 months, femaleaccused, 31, male - 6 May2025Man goes on trial accused of assault causing harm to five-month-old daughter in Cork
Reports the opening of the prosecution case at trial, including testimony from consultant ophthalmologist Dr Sarah Moran on extensive retinal haemorrhage in both eyes, and the father's shifting accounts (first saying he dropped the child, then that he had shaken her).
victim, 5 months, femaleaccused, 31, male