STEPHEN SWEENEY BLANTYRE ATTACKS BABY AT HUNTERS QUAY IN DUNOON LEAVING HIM BLIND AND BRAIN DAMAGED

In a case that has shocked the community, Stephen Sweeney, a 27-year-old man from Blantyre, has been involved in a brutal assault on a five-week-old infant at Hunters Quay caravan park in Dunoon, Argyll. The incident, which occurred on September 3, 2013, resulted in devastating injuries to the young child, leaving him both blind and suffering from severe brain damage.

Initially, Sweeney was convicted of the assault earlier this year at the High Court in Glasgow. The court heard that Sweeney had shaken and squeezed the baby during a moment of care, actions that led to catastrophic injuries. The child, whose identity is protected for legal reasons, was found to have haemorrhages, bruising, and signs of rib fractures. His condition rapidly worsened, necessitating resuscitation and ventilation, and he was transferred to the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Glasgow, also known as Yorkhill.

According to court proceedings, the incident unfolded during a family holiday at the caravan park. The child's mother had left him in Sweeney’s care while she stayed in the bedroom. In the early hours of that day, the baby awoke for his usual feeding. Sweeney decided to take the infant from his cot to tend to him, with the mother remaining nearby. Later, she was awakened by Sweeney shouting for help, holding the child on his knee and claiming, “He’s not right.”

The mother observed that her son appeared unusually tired, pale, and drowsy. His eyes were half-closed, he was breathing rapidly, and he exhibited shaking in his leg along with a floppy posture. Concerned, they took the child to a local hospital in Dunoon, where medical staff initially diagnosed a viral infection and allowed them to leave. However, as the child's condition persisted—refusing feeds and showing signs of pain—they transferred him to Glasgow’s Royal Hospital for Sick Children.

There, doctors discovered evidence of internal bleeding, bruising, and rib fractures. The child's health deteriorated further, requiring intensive care, including resuscitation and mechanical ventilation. Despite some improvement, medical professionals suspected that the injuries resulted from abusive head trauma, a form of severe shaking and gripping that can cause lasting damage.

In subsequent discussions with hospital staff, Sweeney and the child's mother were informed that the injuries were “non accidental.” During a confrontation, Sweeney admitted to having “done something” while trying to “shush” the child, and he later expressed remorse, saying, “Oh my god, I’ve done this. I’m responsible for this.”

Further investigations revealed that Sweeney had been bouncing the baby on his knee earlier that day, with him admitting to holding the child tightly and moving him back and forth. When questioned by police on September 20, 2013, Sweeney claimed the injuries were an accident, asserting that he had been trying to soothe the child by bouncing him and moving him around.

Expert testimony from paediatrician Dr. Helen Hammond confirmed that the injuries were consistent with shaking and gripping, and that the force required to cause such brain damage would have been excessive. The prognosis for the child remains poor; he is now registered blind, suffers from cerebral palsy, and has epilepsy.

In court, Sweeney pleaded guilty to assaulting the child to the danger of his life. Judge John Morris QC described the case as “truly tragic,” emphasizing the devastating impact on the young boy’s life. The judge noted that Sweeney’s guilty plea prevented a potential sentence of ten years, and he sentenced Sweeney to seven and a half years in prison. However, on appeal, the sentence was reduced to five years and three months by the Court of Criminal Appeal in Edinburgh, with Lord Brodie, Lord Bracadale, and Lady Clark of Calton ruling that similar cases had received shorter sentences, and that Sweeney’s punishment should be adjusted accordingly.

Judge Lord Brodie stated, “We shall accordingly quash the sentence imposed by the judge and substitute a sentence of five years, three months.” The appellate court’s decision was based on the comparison with previous decisions, suggesting that the original sentence was excessive given the circumstances and comparable cases.

This case has left the community in shock, highlighting the tragic consequences of child abuse and the importance of safeguarding vulnerable infants. The legal proceedings continue as Sweeney awaits his final sentencing, with the case serving as a stark reminder of the devastating impact such violence can have on innocent lives.