A Cork father, who appealed a nine-month jail sentence for beating his 10-year-old son in a drunken rage, was told by a Circuit Court Judge yesterday he must co-operate with social workers or face his prison sentence.
Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin was hearing an appeal on severity of sentence by Gerard Quilty (40), of Séamus Murphy Place, Mallow, Co Cork, who received the prison term for an attack on his son Christopher.
"These are exceptional circumstances and no matter what I do here today it's going to revert back to the same situation. No matter what I do in relation to the sentence, it will come to an end. And then it's 'open sesame'," Judge Ó Donnabháin stated, expressing his concern for the future safety of the child.
Garda John Dwyer told Judge Ó Donnabháin that on the night of January 21st, 2002, Quilty got into a row with his 10-year-old son Christopher over watching television.
Medical reports by consultant surgeon Aengus Twomey concluded that the child had suffered a very severe assault.
Christopher spent three days in hospital, having suffered extensive bruising to his neck, back and spine, after his father beat him with a hard plastic toy truck.
Judge Ó Donnabháin adjourned the appeal until the family meet with social workers this week. "They must be sufficiently satisfied that there is no danger to the child or his ongoing safety," he said, adjourning the case until Friday.