Courts / Dublin / Report

Four years for man who attacked toddler, leaving him hospitalised

Summary

A father of five was jailed for four years after a jury found him guilty of two counts of child cruelty for attacking his partner's toddler, who was left with extensive bruising and required two days of hospital treatment. The toddler, aged two and a half at the time, suffered injuries to his face, ears, back, buttocks, thighs and genital area, and was described by his grandmother as looking like a child from an ISPCC ad. The man, who had 43 prior convictions including assault, was seen threatening the child on four occasions. He maintains his innocence. The mother, aged 21 when the assault occurred, received a three‑year suspended sentence in 2020 for allowing the abuse. The judge noted the child's vulnerability and the man's criminal record, and gave credit for time already served. The sentence runs concurrently on both counts.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Four years for man who attacked toddler, leaving him hospitalised. Procedural stage: sentence. Findings: Found guilty

When:

• February 2017 Hearing Or Sentence
• November 2020 Incident
• 2022-10-14 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Sentence Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report