Father of six facing new charges over botched circumcision

A 54-YEAR-OLD man has been charged with endangerment of life and impersonating a doctor in connection with a crude circumcision carried out on a 10-month-old baby boy.

The infant needed emergency medical attention and was hospitalised for two weeks.

Father-of-six Philip Ogbewe (54), from Nigeria but living in Ireland for 20 years and residing at Green Lanes, Drogheda, Co Louth, allegedly used a surgical blade on the infant during a circumcision just over three years ago.

The baby boy needed a blood transfusion and required surgery at Mullingar Midland Regional Hospital and later at Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin.

He had initially been charged in November with assault causing harm to the baby boy in a midlands town on a date in December 2015.

He was refused bail on November 16 last.

Mr Ogbewe appeared again at Cloverhill District Court yesterday when the assault charge was withdrawn and replaced with two other allegations, following directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

The new charges are for reckless endangerment of life by performing a home circumcision on the baby which led to serious haemorrhaging which created a substantial risk of death of serious harm.

That alleged offence is under

The baby boy needed a blood transfusion and surgery

Section 13 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act.

The second charge was under the Section 41.b of the Medical Practitioners Act for falsely representing himself as a medical practitioner.

The offences, on conviction, can result in sentences of up to seven years.