NIKKI IRVINE SENTENCED IN BRIDGE OF WEIR FOR SHAKING BABY

In October 2016, Nikki Irvine was sentenced in Bridge of Weir, Renfrewshire, for her actions involving a seven-month-old child. Irvine was found guilty of culpably and recklessly shaking the baby after he had fallen down the stairs. The incident resulted in severe injuries, including brain bleeding, leaving the child with permanent disabilities.

The court heard that Irvine slipped on the stairs, causing her to drop the child, who then rolled down the staircase and struck the laminate flooring. In her panic, Irvine picked him up and shook him in an attempt to wake him, but this led to brain bleeding that has affected his growth.

Advocate Paul Nelson described Irvine’s reaction, stating, "She panicked and thought [he] may well be dead. What she did was to shake him – her intention was to rouse him to see if he was okay, her intention was not to deliberately attack him."

He also remarked on her ongoing remorse, saying, “Nikki Irvine will undergo a life sentence – imposed by herself and her actions, living every day with the realisation that she caused [the child] the injuries.”

Sheriff James Spy emphasized that Irvine did not act with deliberate intent but still found her actions culpable and reckless, stating, "I accept today you did not act deliberately and had no intent to harm [the child]. What you did was culpable and reckless."

As part of her sentence, Irvine was given a community payback order, which requires her to be supervised for the next 18 months.