Wednesday 28 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 7111Unlawful killing · Co. Dublin · 15 Aug 2019

Grandfather jailed for five and a half years over death of 10-month-old grandson, Finglas

Chang Teng Wang (58) of Melville Rise, Finglas, Dublin 11, pleaded guilty to the unlawful killing of his ten-month-old grandson, Seán Wang. Seán and his parents arrived at Temple Street Children's Hospital shortly after midnight on 13 August 2019, and he was pronounced dead 66 hours after admission; Wang admitted to gardaí that he had vigorously shaken the baby to calm him, and a post-mortem linked the shaking to fatal head and neck trauma. Gardaí began an investigation after the death, and Wang later pleaded guilty to the unlawful killing. On 13 November 2023, Judge Martina Baxter at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court sentenced Wang to six and a half years in prison with the final 12 months suspended, which reports describe as jailed for five and a half years.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced13 Nov
    2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Chang Teng Wang (58) of Melville Rise, Finglas, Dublin 11, pleaded guilty to the unlawful killing of Seán Wang, his ten-month-old grandson.
Where
Seán Wang was taken to Temple Street Children's Hospital.
When
  • Seán and his parents arrived at Temple Street Children's Hospital shortly after midnight on 13 August 2019.
  • Sources give 15 August 2019 as the date of the unlawful killing, and Seán was pronounced dead 66 hours after being admitted to hospital.
Cause
  • Wang admitted to gardaí that he vigorously shook the baby in an attempt to calm him and said he did not know his actions could lead to death.
  • A post-mortem examination found the vigorous shaking caused head and neck trauma that ultimately led to Seán's death.
Investigation
Gardaí were contacted and began an investigation after Seán's death.
Charges
Wang pleaded guilty to the unlawful killing of Seán Wang.
In court
Judge Martina Baxter imposed sentence at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on Monday, 13 November 2023.
Sentence
Judge Baxter sentenced Wang to six and a half years in prison with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions; reports headline this as jailed for five and a half years.
Other details
  • The judge said the mitigating factors included Wang's guilty plea, work history and co-operation with gardaí.
  • The judge said Seán was a very healthy baby boy who had his whole life in advance of him, and one report lists this as an aggravating factor.
  • Wang has no previous convictions and has not come to adverse garda attention since the incident, and the defence said there was a very low risk of reoffending.
  • No victim impact statement was presented to the court.
24 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatChang Teng Wang pleaded guilty to the unlawful killing of Seán Wang. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatWang admitted vigorously shaking his 10-month-old grandchild, which led to the child's death. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe child and his parents arrived at Temple Street Children's Hospital shortly after midnight on 13 August 2019. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe unlawful killing is stated to have taken place on 15 August 2019. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenShortly after midnight on August 13, 2019, the child and his parents arrived at Temple Street Children's Hospital. (irishmirror.ie)
  • causeWang admitted to gardaí that he had vigorously shaken the baby in an attempt to calm him. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeA post-mortem examination found that the vigorous shaking caused head and neck trauma, which ultimately led to the child's death. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGardaí were contacted and began an investigation. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationGardaí were contacted and began an investigation after the child's death. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeWang pleaded guilty to the unlawful killing of Seán Wang on August 15, 2019. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtJudge Martina Baxter imposed sentence at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtSentence was imposed at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceWang was jailed for five and a half years. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceJudge Baxter handed down a sentence of six and a half years in prison, with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceJudge Baxter sentenced Wang to six and a half years in prison, with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherA postmortem examination showed the vigorous shaking caused head and neck trauma that ultimately led to the child's death. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe child was pronounced dead 66 hours after being admitted to hospital. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe judge said the mitigating factors included Wang's guilty plea, work history and co-operation with gardaí. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe judge said the child was a very healthy baby boy who had his whole life in advance of him. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherWang has no previous convictions and has not come to adverse garda attention since the incident. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe defence said there was a very low risk of reoffending. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherWang told gardai he shook the baby in an attempt to calm him and did not know his actions could lead to death. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherNo victim impact statement was presented to the court. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherMitigating factors included Wang's guilty plea, work history and co-operation with gardaí. (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 13 Nov2023
    Sentencedirishmirror.ie, first report
    Grandfather who admitted killing 10-month-old grandson by shaking him jailed

    Report of the sentencing at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. No existing case in the list matches this 2019 death.

    convicted, Chang Teng Wang, 58, male, namedChang Teng Wangvictim, Seán Wang, 10 months, maleSeán Wang
  2. 13 Nov2023
    Sentencedirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Grandfather jailed for five years after vigorously shaking baby in attempt to calm him

    First report of the sentencing. Adds the sentence (six and a half years, final 12 months suspended), the mitigating and aggravating factors, the postmortem findings, the hospital timeline and the defendant's background.

    convicted, Chang Teng Wang, 58, male, namedChang Teng Wangvictim, Seán Wang, 10 months, maleSeán Wang