Friday 30 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. 13755Assault · Co. Cork

Man pleads not guilty to assaulting six-month-old child

A 31-year-old man is accused of assaulting his six-month-old baby daughter in County Cork between 25 November 2020 and January 2021. The baby was examined by a consultant paediatrician at Cork University Hospital on 4 January 2021, and the man was arrested on 23 March 2021. He pleaded not guilty at Cork Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm, assault causing serious harm and cruelty to his daughter, and the trial before Judge Dermot Sheehan and a jury opened in Cork the previous week. The trial is ongoing and will resume the following morning, with the accused having told gardaí he dropped the baby twice but never shook her.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court12 May
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
A 31-year-old man is accused of assaulting his six-month-old baby daughter.
Where
The case concerns events in County Cork.
When
The offences are alleged to have occurred on various dates from 25 November 2020 to January 2021.
Other details
The baby had a broken collarbone and evidence of bleeding on the brain, which was suggestive of abusive head trauma.
Investigation
  • The baby was examined by a consultant paediatrician at Cork University Hospital on 4 January 2021.
  • The accused was arrested on 23 March 2021.
  • In interviews under caution the accused said he had dropped the baby twice but never shook her, and that he had told social workers he shook her only because his partner's parents told him to accept responsibility.
Charges
He pleaded not guilty to assault causing harm, assault causing serious harm and cruelty to his daughter.
In court
  • He pleaded not guilty to three charges at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.
  • The trial before Judge Dermot Sheehan and a jury of seven women and five men opened in Cork the previous week.
  • The trial will resume the following morning.
Sentence
No sentence has been reported.
8 statements extracted from the articles
  • whenThe offences are alleged to have occurred on various dates from 25 November 2020 to January 2021. (rte.ie)
  • investigationThe accused was arrested on 23 March 2021. (rte.ie)
  • investigationThe baby was examined by a consultant paediatrician on 4 January 2021 at Cork University Hospital. (rte.ie)
  • chargeHe pleaded not guilty to assault causing harm, assault causing serious harm and cruelty to his daughter. (rte.ie)
  • courtThe man pleaded not guilty to three charges at Cork Circuit Criminal Court. (rte.ie)
  • courtThe trial before Judge Dermot Sheehan and a jury opened in Cork the previous week. (rte.ie)
  • courtThe trial will resume the following morning. (rte.ie)
  • otherThe baby had a broken collarbone and evidence of bleeding on the brain, which was suggestive of abusive head trauma. (rte.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 12 May2025
    In courtrte.ie, first report
    Man pleads not guilty to assaulting six-month old child

    Trial report: the accused told gardaí he dropped the baby twice but never shook her, and the court heard medical evidence of serious injuries.

    accused, 31, malevictim, six months, female