A man who allegedly used a razor blade to circumcise a month-old baby, who later died in hospital, has been branded a "baby killer" by his fellow prisoners, a court heard yesterday.
Mr Osagie Igbinidion (29), has been stigmatised by the alleged incident and has suffered abuse from fellow inmates since he was imprisoned in connection with the charge last September, counsel told Waterford Circuit Court. Mr Igbinidion was jailed in September, following the death of baby Callis Osajhae at Summerhill Mews, Waterford city last August. He has no previous convictions and has never been in trouble, Mr John O'Kelly SC told Judge Michael O'Shea.
Judge O'Shea granted bail, subject to Mr Igbinidion raising a surety of €5,000 in property or cash. He must also surrender his passport, sign on daily at Kilkenny Garda station, reside at a nominated address in Kilkenny and notify gardaí if he changes that address.
Other bail conditions include an undertaking not to perform circumcisions and not to contact any witness in the case. "Because of the nature of the charge, it is a very difficult situation for him in prison," said Mr O'Kelly. "He is subject to stigma and abuse and is seen by his fellow prisoners as a baby killer.
"He is someone who, before this arrest, did not run away. He stayed around in Kilkenny where he was living.
"He had established a very close relationship with an Irish woman and he is prepared to abide by whatever condition the court places on him, for example, remaining in Kilkenny and signing on daily if necessary.
"When he originally applied for bail, there was the question that he might reoffend.
"In the context of this case, such a suggestion is absurd," his counsel said, adding that the procedure allegedly carried out was not illegal in Mr Igbinidion's country.
The court heard the defendant's father is a local judge in his native Nigeria. His father, grandfather and great-grandfather all carried out circumcisions in their tribe.
"There is no way he would even contemplate carrying out a circumcision now. He is a very respectable man, hard-working and he has a trade. He has strong Irish connections. He did not leave the country when this went wrong," added Mr O'Shea.
Mr Igbinidion first came before the court in Co Kilkenny charged that on August 17th he intentionally or recklessly performed a circumcision with a razor blade, which created a substantial risk of death or serious harm to another, contrary to Section 13 of the Non-Fatal Offences against the Person Act 1997.