Manslaughter verdict open to jury in trial of father accused of murdering infant son

At the Central Criminal Court, Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy has begun his charge to the jury in the trial of a Ballyhaunis man accused of murdering his infant son. John Tighe, aged 40, of Lavallyroe, County Mayo, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of six-and-a-half-month-old Joshua Sussbier Tighe at his home on 1 June 2013. The judge instructed the jury that they may return an alternative verdict of manslaughter if they are satisfied the child was unlawfully killed but are not convinced beyond reasonable doubt that Mr Tighe intended to kill or cause serious injury. The prosecution alleges the infant choked on tissue deliberately placed in his throat. Mr Tighe maintains he was changing the child's nappy when the choking occurred. The judge's charge to the jury continues this afternoon.