Father shook baby son until he was limp

A father who became frustrated with his colicky, eight-week-old baby shook him until he became limp and an ambulance had to be called to rush the child to hospital.

The father pleaded guilty to two counts of assault, one of causing harm and the other of causing serious harm to the boy.

Defence barrister, Seamus Roche, said at the sentencing hearing at Cork Circuit Criminal Court yesterday that the father had been under financial pressure as a result of the downturn of the economy.