Courts / Dublin / Report
Father "at the end of his tether" bit two year old son "to show him how sore it was"
Summary
In 2017 the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court sentenced a 39‑year‑old father to a one‑year term that was fully suspended after he pleaded guilty to wilful assault of his two‑year‑old son in 2013 and to two further assault counts in 2014. The father, who had no prior convictions, had been the child's main carer and had undergone anger‑management and psychological therapy. Playgroup staff had reported the boy's aggressive behaviour and bruising to social services, who had been working with the family and had provided therapeutic services for the child, who is autistic. The father admitted biting the child to demonstrate pain and had struck him and swung him by the arm in a later incident. The judge praised the staff for their handling of the matter, noted the father was "at the end of his tether", and imposed the suspended sentence on the basis of good behaviour.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Father "at the end of his tether" bit two year old son "to show him how sore it was". Charges or matters: one count of wilful assault of the child in June 2013 and two counts of assault in December 2014. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- June 2013 Incident
- December 2014 Incident
- 2017-03-30 Publication
Why: The accused later told gardai he had bitten the child because the child had bitten him and he wanted to show him how sore it was. CNI source report
Case subjects
Accused
Charges: one count of wilful assault of the child in June 2013 and two counts of assault in December 2014 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: A father "at the end of his tether" who bit his two year old son on the cheek to show him how much it hurt has been given a suspended sentence. He imposed a one year sentence which he suspended in full on the basis the accused be of good behaviour.
Places mentioned
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
Topics
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