A 25-year-old man accused of sexually assaulting a 12-day-old baby has had his case adjourned until the New Year.
The defendant, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared briefly via videolink from Maghaberry at Newry Magistrates’ Court this morning.
The accused first appeared in court in Armagh on October 2, where he was charged with sexually assaulting a child under the age of 13 and grievous bodily harm following an alleged incident on September 29.
It later transpired that the child in question was a new-born baby.
The baby had been in intensive care at Royal Belfast Children’s Hospital for Sick Children.
At a previous court hearing, prosecutors alleged that the injuries inflicted, including broken ribs and thigh bones, were so severe that they could not have been accidental.
Sitting this morning, District Judge Eamonn King, agreed to allow prosecution a a four-week adjournment.
The case will return to Newry on January 2.
