A father of a three-year-old deaf boy yesterday spoke of his family’s disappointment as the activation of his son’s bionic ear has been postponed.

The parents of the first deaf Irish toddler to get a pioneering ‘bionic ear’ implant described themselves as “elated and exhausted” last night after surgeons told them the seven-hour operation “couldn’t have gone better”.

A toddler from Co Cork diagnosed as being profoundly deaf will undergo a “bionic ear” operation in Britain tomorrow, becoming the first Irish person to have the revolutionary surgery.

The greatest gift three-year-old Donnacha Geary will get is to know one day his twin brother will be able to hear him say he loves him.