KILWINNING OLYMPIAN STEVEN MORRIN JAILED FOR BRUTAL ATTACK ON 14-MONTH-OLD BABY IN TROON

In March 2014, a disturbing incident unfolded in Troon involving Steven Morrin, a former Olympian from Kilwinning, Ayrshire, who was convicted of assaulting a 14-month-old girl. The assault was particularly heinous, as Morrin, then 23 years old, physically struck the young child in a moment of frustration while he was watching a football match on television. The attack resulted in severe injuries to the infant, including a serious injury to her eye and extensive bruising across her face, neck, and ears.

The young girl’s mother recounted the traumatic aftermath, revealing that her daughter continues to suffer from nightmares and wakes up screaming during the night. She described the physical toll of the assault, noting that her baby had bruising all over her face, bleeding inside her ear with congealed blood, and bloodshot eyes. The mother expressed a mixture of relief and disappointment, stating, “I’m glad I have got justice for my wee girl, although I was hoping he would be sentenced to longer.” She also shared that her four-year-old son witnessed the incident and now also suffers from nightmares, highlighting the emotional scars inflicted on the family.

Steven Morrin, who previously represented Great Britain as a volleyball player and participated in the Special Olympics in Ireland in 2003, was charged with causing the injuries at a residence in Troon. At Ayr Sheriff Court, he admitted to assaulting the child, which resulted in her severe injuries. The court heard that Morrin had slapped the girl across the face, causing her head to strike an unidentified object, further exacerbating her injuries.

The young victim was promptly taken to Ayr Hospital, where medical examinations revealed extensive bruising on her face, neck, and ears, along with hemorrhaging in her right eye. The severity of her injuries underscored the gravity of the assault.

During proceedings, solicitor Matt Jackson explained that Morrin had consumed approximately three cans of lager while watching the football match. Jackson suggested that Morrin’s frustration, possibly compounded by the demands of the crying child, led to the violent outburst. He stated, “Mr Morrin had taken some drink — perhaps three cans of lager — and he was watching a football match. He was engaged with that match and the child was demanding of his attention. He believes it may have been a build-up of these demands and frustration caused by them which led him to slap the child.”

In response, Sheriff Carole Cunningham emphasized the seriousness of the crime, declaring, “An assault on a defenceless child, causing severe injury, is so serious as to merit a custodial sentence.” Consequently, Morrin was sentenced to 19 months in prison for his actions, reflecting the court’s stance on the gravity of harming a vulnerable young child in such a manner.