Cork man accused of assaulting mother before taking infant away in buggy 

Cork District Court heard the defendant's mother had to be taken to hospital for treatment for injuries sustained in the incident.

A 31-year-old man returned to his mother’s house where she was babysitting in the early hours of Saturday morning, assaulted her, and insisted while drunk that he was taking his infant child away.

That was the allegation made by Garda David O’Sullivan at Cork District Court where there was an objection to bail.

The defendant’s 59-year-old mother had to be taken to hospital for treatment for injuries sustained in the incident. Because of her concerns that the defendant was highly intoxicated and would take the one-year-old out of his cot, the child’s grandmother felt that the safest thing to do in the circumstances was to strap the infant safely into his buggy.

The defendant then took the child from the house at 3.30am after he kicked in the front door and assaulted his mother.

A concerned person in the area saw the accused with the child in the buggy at that hour and observed him going into another house. Gardaí were alerted and the accused came to the door covered in blood. It was only with the use of incapacitant spray that he could be arrested, Garda O’Sullivan said.

He was charged with assault causing harm to his mother and causing criminal damage to the front door of the house. For legal reasons, the parties are not identified.

Garda O’Sullivan said the infant was taken to hospital as a precaution following the incident.

Forced entry

Garda O’Sullivan said the incident began when the 31-year-old allegedly forced entry by kicking and smashing the front door and its glass panels. His mother was alone in the house babysitting the defendant’s one-year-old child at the request of the accused.

“When inside he assaulted his 59-year-old mother by pushing her against the wall. She got up and he pushed her onto the floor. Her left arm was bleeding as a result of assault.

“He wanted his child. Out of fear she took the child out of the cot and placed (the infant) in the buggy as her son was highly intoxicated. He left the house with the child,” Garda O’Sullivan said during the objection to bail at Cork District Court.

Gardaí received a call from a concerned citizen that he was pushing a pram and shouting at a crying baby to shut up.

Applying for bail, the defendant said of the Friday night/ Saturday morning incident: “Everything was all normal. My mother said she’s mind the child for the night. Then I have a few drinks and everything went blurry.” 

Eddie Burke, defence solicitor, asked the young man: “Who is the last person in the world you would harm?” He replied: “My mother. I won’t go near my mother. I won’t even talk to her. I just want to go somewhere and get my head straight. I have depression. Everything is getting worse and worse in my head.” 

He said his in-laws were “threatening to do away with me — my life is a wreck.” 

Cross-examined in his bail application, Sergeant John Kelleher said: “Your mother had to have hospital treatment.”

 The defendant replied: “I’m ashamed of my life … two people in the world I would not harm … My mother is the love of my life. She done her best, she brought me up… I can’t explain how sorry I actually am, like.” 

Judge Olann Kelleher refused bail and remanded him in custody until October 2.

Mr Burke asked the judge to recommend to the prison service that the accused would be given whatever medical assistance he needs while in custody. Judge Kelleher said he could not direct this but would make the recommendation.