Sentence increased for man who hit and threw baby

A man who slapped, punched, and threw a 10-month-old baby in what was described as a “truly horrific” case of child cruelty has had his three-year sentence increased to the maximum of seven years following a successful appeal by the DPP.

The court heard the child was taken to the Mid-Western Regional Hospital in Limerick with injuries that included fractures to both arms, a dislocated right elbow, multiple bruising to his body, a burn mark to his right calf, and bleeding to his brain.

In February 2012, Larry Connors, aged 21, was jailed for three years by Judge Carroll Moran at Ennis Circuit Criminal Court, having pleaded guilty to child cruelty on dates between December 15, 2010, and January 3, 2011.

Connors is not the father of the child. The mother described how Connors, with a last address at Shannon, Co Clare, slapped, pinched, punched, and threw her baby around the apartment where she lived, stating that Connors abused her child for three weeks and there was nothing she could do about it.

The DPP had appealed against the sentence previously imposed on the grounds it was too lenient.

Mr Justice Nial Fennelly, presiding at the Court of Criminal Appeal, said this was a “truly horrific case”.

Mr Justice Fennelly said the court would impose a sentence of seven years with the final two suspended.

Shane Costelloe, for the DPP, said the child was now doing rather well, but requires speech therapy due to a tear injury to his mouth.