Mum spared jail for breaking baby daughter’s ribs, leg and arm

A one-year suspended jail sentence was imposed yesterday on a mother who admitted assaulting her own infant daughter by grabbing her forcefully from a stroller and squeezing her, breaking the baby’s ribs, leg and arm.

The mother, who cannot be named as the injured child is entitled to anonymity, was before Cork Circuit Criminal Court for sentence yesterday after previously pleading guilty to the charge of assault causing harm to the child.

Defence barrister, Sinead Behan, said the 27-year-old mother attended with social services.

“The child is now back fully in the care of [the defendant] and her partner,” Ms Behan said.

After the involvement of social services she has now been assessed as being of low risk of re-offending and is subject to no further supervision.

“It was a sad situation. She was post-natally depressed and unfortunately she caused the injuries to the child,” the barrister said.

Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin previously described it as a highly complex and unusual case and adjourned it until yesterday for sentencing.

The judge said yesterday the suspended sentence was appropriate “In view of the level of supervision and the steps taken by the HSE and returning the child to her and the probation report saying she is a low risk of re-offending.”

Sergeant Miriam McGuire said the child was admitted to hospital in May 2013 and later found to have sustained fractures to her ribs, femur, tibia and humerus.

The injuries were inflicted by grabbing the little girl forcefully from her stroller and squeezing her. She was only three and a half months old at the time.

Sgt McGuire said in November the child spent a period living with her grandparents following the incident but was back living with her mother and father with a continuing involvement from health services.

Ms Behan said the mother of the infant had difficulty bonding with her baby and had felt the urge to press the baby before this assault occurred.

“It would have been documented that she said prior to this happening she had an urge to squeeze the baby. She had gone looking for help,” Ms Behan BL said.