Blantyre Man Left Baby Blind With Brain Damage

A MAN who left a five-week old baby blind and with catastrophic brain damage later moaned: "I was tired". The attack by Stephen Sweeney was so severe medics believed the boy would not survive. Sweeney violently shook the baby and squeezed his tiny body while apparently changing him during a holiday with the child's mum in September 2013. A judge heard how the boy was able to leave hospital - but now suffers from cerebral palsy, is registered blind and faces an uncertain future. First offender Sweeney faces jail after he pled guilty to assaulting the child to the danger of his life. The 27 year-old - who showed no emotion during the hearing - will learn his fate later this month. Sweeney had joined the child and his mum on a short break to Hunters Quay caravan park in Dunoon, Argyll and Bute. The baby was said to be initially happy and content during the holiday. But, tragically that changed soon after the child awoke in the early hours of September 3 for his regular feed. The High Court in Glasgow heard Sweeney decided to take the boy from his cot to deal with him. The child's mum stayed in the bedroom, but could see him with the youngster. Prosecutor Jennifer Bain said the woman nodded off, but was startled by Sweeney yelling for help. She then discovered Sweeney, of Blantyre, Lanarkshire, with the child on his knee while claiming: "He's not right." Miss Bain: "She noticed her son appeared tired and drowsy, but that he was not asleep. "She saw that he looked pale, his eyes were half shut and that he was taking short breaths. His leg was shaking and he appeared to be floppy." They decided to take the baby to the local hospital in Dunoon. Medics checked over the child, but he was allowed to leave having been diagnosed with a viral infection. But, the court was told the baby refused to be fed back at the holiday park and was in obvious pain. They travelled to Glasgow to have him tested at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children at Yorkhill. During the journey, the baby was described as "shivering and sweating". Doctors at Yorkhill found he had haemorrhages and bruising. He also had signs of rib fractures. Miss Bain: "His condition deteriorated...he required resuscitation and ventilation." The boy was transferred to intensive care as his condition worsened. The advocate depute went on: "He was unable to breath independently and he continued to have seizures. "The accused and the boy's mum were told to prepare for the worst and the child was administered with his Last Rites." The court heard, though, the boy managed to improve and he was able to move. But, medics - due to the nature of his injuries - believed the boy had been a victim of "abusive head trauma". The apparently healing rib fractures were likely caused by shaking. Later that month, hospital staff told Sweeney and the child's mum the injuries were "non accidental" and the finger of blame was being pointed at them. After the meeting, the mum confronted Sweeney who claimed he had "done something" while trying to "shush" the child. He then blurted out: "Oh my god, I've done this. I'm responsible for this." The next day, Sweeney told his own mother that he had been bouncing the child on his knee and that the baby's head had been moving backwards and forwards. Another relative of the baby then asked Sweeney if he had "lost it". Sweeney told her: "I don't know - I was tired." He was detained by police on September 20 2013 and claimed what happened was "an accident". Sweeney said he had held the boy tightly that morning as he moved him up and down as well as backwards and forwards. On being charged, Sweeney whined: "I understand, but I wouldn't hurt him." Leading paediatrician Dr Helen Hammond OBE was asked to provide expert opinion on the case. Dr Hammond said the injuries were consistent with the baby being shaken and gripped. She added the way the boy appeared at hospital could be explained by Sweeney's claims he "bounced" the boy on his knee while not supporting his head. But, the force would have to be "excessive" to cause the brain injuries. She added bruising on the child's bottom also pointed to the child being "thumped down hard" on a knee. The court heard the prognosis for the boy was "poor". Miss Bain said he is registered blind, now has cerebral palsy and suffers from epilepsy. The prosecutor went on: "He is - and will continue to be - significantly impaired both physically and mentally." Sweeney's QC Frances McMenamin told the court what happened "on so many levels was utterly tragic". Judge John Morris QC allowed Sweeney to remain on bail pending sentencing later this month.