Courts / Mayo / Report

Father went on to have second child with mother of infant he is accused of murdering

Date
2018-03-16

Stage
Trial

Primary locality
Ballyhaunis

County
Mayo

Summary

John Tighe, 40, of Ballyhaunis, Co Mayo, is on trial at the Central Criminal Court, where he has pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of his six-month-old son, Joshua Sussbier Tighe. The prosecution alleges that on June 1, 2013, Tighe murdered the infant by placing a wad of tissue paper in the child's throat. Tighe maintains he was changing the baby's nappy and left the child to use the toilet, returning to find the infant choking. He stated he did not see the baby put the tissue in its mouth and suggested it must have been pushed further down by his attempts to remove it. During cross-examination, Detective Garda Ken Waldron testified that Tighe and the deceased's mother, Natasha Sussbier, had a second child, a baby girl, in October 2015, though they are no longer together. The jury heard transcripts of Tighe's interviews with gardai, in which he expressed love for his son and denied ever trying to hurt him. He explained that he had a medical condition causing severe pain during urination, which prompted him to leave the baby briefly. He also addressed the presence of blood on the baby's clothes, his pyjamas, and the home, attributing it to his efforts to clear the obstruction. The pathologist removed an egg-shaped tissue wad measuring 5.5cm by 3.5cm by 2.5cm from the infant's throat. The prosecution has completed its evidence, and the trial will continue on Tuesday before Justice Patrick McCarthy.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Father went on to have second child with mother of infant he is accused of murdering. Charges or matters: murdering his son Joshua Sussbier Tighe. Procedural stage: trial

When: