A daycare employee is facing charges after a horrifying assault on a toddler, leaving the child with facial injuries. The man is said to have forcefully thrust the child’s face onto Lego bricks at a nursery. The alleged aggressor, a man in his twenties, stood before Judge Michael Ramsey at Dublin District Court on Monday where his bail was fixed at €1,100.
He stands accused of causing harm through assault to a 19-month-old boy the previous week. An initial hypothesis suggested that the child’s injuries stemmed from an accident, but following an internal investigation by the nursery, the authorities were alerted. Garda Padraig Murphy informed Judge Ramsey that the suspect, not having yet pleaded, was apprehended at his residence last Saturday and detained for interrogation. It was revealed in court that he chose to remain silent when charged with assaulting the toddler, a child who was under his care.
Garda Murphy voiced objection to granting bail, expressing concerns about the accused, from another EU nation, potentially absconding. It was alleged by Garda Murphy that the daycare worker had seized the baby by the back of his head and violently pounded his head onto the ground. Injuries inflicted onto the toddler included facial markings, swelling, a laceration, and an imprint of an upturned Lego brick on his cheek.
There has been a discretionary decision not to disclose the identity of the accused to safeguard the child’s identity. The toddler required no hospital treatment. Initially explained as a fall by Garda Murphy, the child was taken to see a general physician. However, the truth was revealed in their internal investigation, leading to the authorities being notified the following day. The officer reported their possession of video evidence, describing the footage as ‘disturbing.’
Judge Ramsey listened to Garda Murphy recount that the incriminating CCTV from the nursery room was of an exceptional standard. The individual was able to identify himself in the video and confessed during the questioning. On being asked by the judge if there was any explanation, the garda responded that in the interview the accused confessed he had been feeling frustrated that day.
Garda Murphy argued the defendant was a flight risk as he had frequently travelled back to his home country in the past but has held a job in Ireland for several years.
Defence attorney Eoghan O’Sullivan contended that stringent conditions could resolve the concerns raised against granting bail. Judge Ramsey agreed to bail, resulting in the defendant being discharged following a cash deposit of €1,000. The conditions of his bail include abiding by a curfew at his residence, reporting daily to the local Garda station, and refraining from any interaction with the family of the child or creche employees.
The individual, who remained silent during the court proceedings, was obliged to relinquish his passport and was informed that he is required to stay within this jurisdiction. In December, he must return to court to receive the Director of Public Prosecution’s instructions. Legal assistance was approved by the judge, and he directed that a translator would be present during the defendant’s future court dates.