A 31-year-old man has denied allegations of severely assaulting his five-month-old daughter, who sustained multiple injuries, including facial and body bruising, a fractured collarbone, and internal bleeding in the brain and behind her eyes.
The accused, whose identity is protected by law, appeared before Cork Circuit Criminal Court facing three charges related to incidents that allegedly occurred while he was caring for the child at their family home between late November 2020 and early January 2021.#ADVERT
The prosecution claims the father caused serious harm to the child on January 4, 2021, and assaulted her during an earlier timeframe between November 25 and December 15, 2020.
He is also accused of willful ill-treatment likely to cause unnecessary suffering or affect her well-being.
Senior Counsel Jane Hyland told jurors they would hear from various witnesses, including medical staff, the child’s grandmother, and childcare professionals.
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The grandmother is expected to testify about her concerns after noticing bruises and recalling the infant appearing “very distressed and lethargic” before being hospitalised.
Medical examinations revealed extensive injuries. The accused reportedly gave conflicting accounts to social workers, initially saying he dropped the baby, then later admitting to shaking her.
He has pleaded not guilty to all charges. The trial continues.
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