Father goes on trial over death of baby son five years ago

A MAN has gone on trial charged with murdering his baby son five years ago.

John Tighe, 40, yesterday replied ‘not guilty’ when arraigned on the charge of murdering his son Joshua Tighe at his home on June 1, 2013.

His Central Criminal Court trial was due to begin yesterday afternoon but Judge Patrick McCarthy told the newly sworn jury of eight men and four women that he is dealing with a jury in another trial and cannot begin until today.

Mr Tighe, of Lavallyroe, Ballyhaunis, Co. Mayo, was previously charged with the manslaughter of his baby son and faced a second charge of wilful neglect.

At a hearing in May 2016, Castlebar District Court heard that Mr Tighe has had a second child with his partner since the death of their first child. The court heard that Mr Tighe’s partner was standing by him following the death of their first child and the two remained a couple.

Defence solicitor Alan Gannon described the case as ‘tremendously sad’, adding that the accused had been left distraught by the death of his infant son. He told the court Mr Tighe denies the charges and was anxious for the trial to proceed. ‘He wants to put this matter behind him,’ he added.

He said Mr Tighe had co-operated fully with gardaí at all stages. He had presented voluntarily for two Garda interviews before he was formally interviewed by gardaí in July 2015.

The court heard that gardaí had gathered substantive evidence over a three-year investigation, including medical reports from three separate doctors. The State opposed bail at the hearing in May 2016 citing the seriousness of the charge, the nature of the evidence and the likely sentence in the event of conviction. However Mr Tighe was granted bail.

In February of last year he was sent forward for trial to the Central Criminal Court on the new charge of murder. The trial is expected to last two weeks.