Man who punched baby in face avoids jail

A MAN who smiled and laughed after he was arrested for assaulting an 11-month-old baby has avoided jail.

Aaron O’Kane punched the child in the face during a fight with his brother.

Yesterday he was given a fivemonth prison sentence, suspended for two years, at Londonderry Magistrates’ Court.

O’Kane (26) admitted the two assaults on his brother and the baby in a house in the Carnhill area of the city on April 30 after he had returned home from a day-long drinking binge.

Since the assaults O’Kane has been living at Lodge Road in Coleraine.

A Public Prosecution Service solicitor told District Judge Barney McElholm that at 11.15pm on April 30, police received a 999 call from a woman who was screaming and distressed. In the background a man was heard shouting at her to hang up.

A second 999 call was received from a man who said his brother had assaulted him and a baby.

The brother told the police O’Kane had returned home drunk.

He came into a bedroom where the baby and the man were asleep and switched on the light. His brother asked him to turn the light off as it would waken the baby.

O’Kane then grabbed his brother and punched him 10 times to the head and face.

Their sister ran upstairs and separated the brothers, but O’Kane again started to punch his brother.

O’Kane fell into the baby’s cot and when the brother lifted the child from the cot O’Kane again started punching him as the baby was being held.

One punch missed the brother and struck the baby on the side of his face. Another punch struck the brother on the head knocking his head against the baby’s head.

Both the baby and the brother sustained redness to the face.

The prosecutor said when it was put to O’Kane by the police after his arrest that his actions caused the baby distress “the defendant laughed and smiled during the interview. He said he was drunk so what would you expect”.

Defence solicitor Seamus Quigley admitted it was an extremely serious case.

“The defendant knows that no matter how the court deals with him today, the consequences of the offences will stay with him for the rest of his life,” he said.

“If he ever enters into a relationship and had a child from that relationship, in all probability the social services will put that child on the at risk register.”

Mr Quigley said O’Kane had issues in relation to his temper and in relation to alcohol and drugs misuse.

“He is still trying to rebuild bridges with his family who have taken a very responsible attitude that his behaviour is entirely unacceptable and in the consequences that fall from it,” he added.

The baby’s mother, grandmother and grandaunt were in court for the sentencing. They heard the District Judge describe O’Kane’s behaviour as absolutely disgraceful.

“To punch someone who is holding a baby is completely and utterly disgusting,” he said.

Judge McElholm also ordered O’Kane to pay the baby compensation of £300. He warned O’Kane that if he didn’t pay he would go to jail.