A Cork mother wept with relief yesterday after her former partner was jailed for two years for punching her three-year-old son in the chest, causing him to spend 72 hours on a life-support machine.
Ms Ceytina Lonergan said she felt "justice had been done" after Liam Cronin, Springfield Park, Cobh, Co Cork, received a prison sentence for assaulting her son Tristan at the home the couple shared.
The court was told the child had to have have a life-saving operation following the assault in Midleton, Co Cork, in April 2000. The child was struck in the chest, leading to a rupture of his duodenum.
The extent of the injury was not discovered for several days until Tristan was rushed to Cork University Hospital after he became ill. He bears a scar from the operation which runs across his chest and stomach.
His mother said the worst aspect of the assault for Tristan was that during the summer he had to keep his T-shirt on all the time as other children repeatedly ask him what the mark was on his stomach.
Sgt Ronan Kennelly said the authorities were alerted by a surgeon at Cork University Hospital who felt the child's injuries were consistent with a blow to the chest.
Cronin was arrested on April 21st, 2000, and taken to Midleton Garda station for questioning where he admitted he hit the child in an act of rage. The defendant had been minding his partner's child when the assault occurred. The couple ended their relationship after the assault.
Sgt Kennelly said Cronin had not approached the mother or child in the wake of the incident but said Ms Lonergan still feared for her safety around Cronin. He told the court the child had made a good recovery although he has occasional nightmares.
Mr Tim O'Leary, defending, said it would have been difficult for the prosecution to take a case against Cronin if he had not admitted his guilt. However, he was in no way excusing the behaviour of his client in this matter, describing his behaviour as "unforgivable."
Mr O'Leary made an appeal for leniency in the case as he said the incident was "a moment of madness" and was not in any way premeditated.
Judge Patrick Moran said the attack was so serious that a surgeon felt obliged to bring it to the attention of the authorities. He said Cronin was in total denial of his actions and seemed to attribute them to an isolated act of rage.
"This young boy was defenceless and suffered from life-endangering surgery. I look on this type of assault as a serious one. You attacked him in a way that was quite savage."
Outside the court, the child's grandmother, Ms Anne Lonergan, said she was pleased with the sentence given to Cronin.
"What this is saying is that the system does work. We waited three years for this. He is after getting what was coming to him."