Courts / Mayo / Report
"Inconsistencies" in father's account of baby's death, prosecution say
Summary
A father accused of murdering his six-and-a-half-month-old son at his home in Ballyhaunis, County Mayo, faces closing arguments at the Central Criminal Court. John Tighe, aged 40, has pleaded not guilty to the charge relating to an incident on 1 June 2013. The prosecution alleges the infant died after a tissue wad was placed in his throat, while the defence maintains the death was accidental. During closing speeches, the prosecution highlighted alleged inconsistencies in the accused's successive accounts to gardaí and emergency services regarding how the child came to choke, the timeline of events, and his attempts at intervention. The defence countered that such variations are natural given the traumatic circumstances, and emphasised the accused's immediate call for emergency assistance and his previously unblemished character. Medical evidence from both prosecution and defence paediatricians was contested regarding whether the child could have self-ingested the obstruction. The jury will hear the completion of closing arguments before Justice Patrick McCarthy.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: "Inconsistencies" in father's account of baby's death, prosecution say. Charges or matters: murdering six-and-a-half-month old Joshua Sussbier Tighe at his home on June 1, 2013. Procedural stage: trial
When:
- June 1, 2013 Other
- June 2014 Other
- July 2015 Other
- 2018-03-20 Publication
Why: The box of tissues was intact and Mr Tighe even had the presence of mind, counsel said, to put all the used ones into the fire place because, as he told gardai, it was cheaper to burn them than to dispose of them in the bins. CNI source report
Case subjects
Accused
Charges: murdering six-and-a-half-month old Joshua Sussbier Tighe at his home on June 1, 2013 (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Places mentioned
Topics
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