Father nearly beat baby ‘into a pulp’ in row with partner

A JUDGE yesterday accused a 26-year-old man of nearly beating his two-month baby “into a pulp” in a row during which he kicked his girlfriend six times.

Judge Kevin Kilrane was recalling at Sligo District Court the night when Mark Cleary attacked his girlfriend Amy Power at their home in Tír Chonaill Street, Ballyshannon, Co Donegal.

Cleary had been remanded in custody for six days from Ballyshannon court.

When he reappeared at Sligo court yesterday Judge Kilrane recalled earlier evidence when Cleary briefly held his son in the row.

“You gave her a savage beating,” he said of Cleary’s attack on Ms Power.

Judge Kilrane said Cleary, an unemployed printer, was more concerned in his first appearance with his girlfriend and her father creating difficulties for him seeing his baby “that you nearly beat into a pulp”.

Dublin-born Cleary said “it was a horrible thing to do” and “the last week in custody was horrible”.

Judge Kilrane released Cleary from custody and remanded him on bail for a probation report to Bally- shannon court on April 15.

The judge said Cleary, who admitted assault causing harm, could be ordered to do 200 hours community service in lieu of a four-month jail sentence.

Ms Power ended their relationship after the assault.

She said at one stage Cleary was standing at the top of the stairs with their baby son in his arms: “I was trying to take the baby off him.”

She said since the attack she couldn’t hold their son properly for a few weeks afterwards because of the manner in which Cleary had thrown her across the room.