Man accused of throwing baby facedown onto a bed before Derry court charged with child cruelty
Derry Magistrate's Court has heard that a man is alleged to have thrown a baby facedown onto a bed.
The man, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the baby, was charged with one count of child cruelty that was said to have occurred between August 29 and August 30.
The court heard that on August 31 police responded to a report of an ongoing domestic incident.
They spoke to a female who said that she had left her little baby in the care of the baby's father while she went out for the night.
She claimed that when she returned home she found the baby was wet, not having been changed for some time.
While talking to her partner, who she alleged had been taking drugs, she said that he had been holding the baby standing in the doorway of the bedroom when he threw the child face down onto the bed.
The baby was taken to Altnagelvin Hospital for observation and a bruise was examined on the baby's leg which was noted as 'a non-accidental injury.'
When the defendant was arrested he denied the offences.
Defence solicitor Seamus Quigley said that his client had given a 'complete account' of what he claimed had happened.
He said the man claimed the woman has returned intoxicated and added that it had taken the woman 36 hours to report the incident.
District Judge Conor Heaney said that this was a serious case but he would grant the man bail to appear again later this month.