Dad shows "lack of remorse" for now disabled son (County Londonderry, Northern Ireland)

Notice the complete and total lack of a mother in this story. Was there one? Or was she somehow eliminated from this baby's life at birth, when dad ROBERT JOHN ANDERSON became his infant son's "carer"? Despite our best efforts at erasing the differences between mothers and fathers, fathers still DOMINATE "shaken baby" assaults on infants--even though they make up a minority of infant caregivers.  Maybe for the same reason that men dominate violent crime as a whole. It's no coincidence that this father also has a criminal record. Why do we persist in thinking that criminal daddies make adequate caregivers? Utter stupidity....

INVISIBLE MOTHER ALERT.

http://www.u.tv/News/Shaken-babys-father-showed-lack-of-remorse/54d4aec9-687d-44f7-aad2-8885c16aef68

Wednesday, 15 June 2011
Shaken baby's father showed 'lack of remorse'

A County Londonderry man who blinded his four-month-old son by shaking him has shown a lack of remorse for the attack which left the child with "catastrophic injuries".

Robert John Anderson's son, who cannot be named, was left blind, brain damaged, unable to speak and with multiple disability and mobility problems.

Anderson, 27, was convicted by a jury at Londonderry Crown Court earlier this year after a seven week trial during what is believed to be one of the first convictions of its kind in Northern Ireland.

He was also found guilty of cruelty by neglect and on Wednesday a hearing took place to determine what sentence Anderson should serve.

Prosecution lawyer Mr Charles McKay QC said Anderson's lack of remorse was one of a number of aggravating features which should be taken into account by Judge Philip Babington in determining the appropriate sentence.

He said Anderson had abused his position of trust as the baby's father and carer.
Mr McKay also said Anderson had a criminal record for drugs offences, criminal damage and disorderly behaviour.

He said that although the accused had told a social worker he did not mean the child any harm, he still did not accept he was responsible for his son's injuries which had also left him confined to a wheelchair.

A doctor said he did not believe Anderson posed a significant danger in the future if he avoided contact with children.

Anderson's lawyer Mr Billy McCrory QC said the accused had no history of ill-treatment, abuse or cruelty and he said Anderson did express concerns for his son.

"This is not a case of a man who acted with intent to cruelly inflict serious and catastrophic injuries." he said, adding it wasn't a frenzied and mad attack which happened on 16 December 2008 when Anderson was looking after the baby who started to cry.

The lawyer said Anderson had a deep love and affection for his son and Mr McCrory added that the circumstances of his contact with the boy in the future would be subject to considerable control which he said was going to cause Anderson pain and anguish.

He went on: "One cannot help but feel the pain which has emerged here. I would ask the court to have compassion for a man who undoubtedly wishes this state of affairs had never come about."

Judge Babington, was sitting in Belfast, said he wanted to reflect on the submissions and would sentence Anderson in Londonderry Crown Court on June 28.