Father, 29, left his baby son brain damaged after shaking him in ‘fit of rage’

A father who left his baby son with brain damage after violently shaking him in a ‘fit of rage’ and refusing to bring him to hospital has been jailed for his murder.

Craig Rowland, 29, of Co. Armagh in Northern Ireland, was convicted last year of murdering three-year-old Lewis Roland who died in October 2018 from surgery complications.

The helpless infant had sustained life-changing injuries following the incident in November 2013. It occurred when he was just 13 weeks old.

At Rowland’s sentencing hearing today, his actions were described by a senior detective as ‘cowardly and brutal’.

The hearing also saw Judge Justice O’Hara tell Belfast Crown Court that Lewis’ death was a direct result of the injuries given to him by his father.

Rowland was previously sentenced to life for the murder but today saw the implementation of a tariff which means he must serve a minimum of 20 years behind bars. He was given an additional 12 month sentence for a child cruelty charge.

Laura Graham, 32, who was Lewis’ mother, received a three year probationary sentence for the wilful neglect of her son.

Mr Justice O’Hara said Rowland and Graham had brought baby Lewis to Craigavon Hospital in November 2015 where he was diagnosed with multiple serious injuries including head trauma and spinal injuries. The judge added that those injuries were ‘non-accidental’.

However, complications arose and he died on October 20 2018 in the arms of his foster mother.

Mr Justice O’Hara said: ‘The death in 2018 was the direct result of the injuries inflicted on him in November 2015.’

He said there was no dispute the injuries were non-accidental and no dispute that Lewis’ only carers were his parents.

The judge said the injuries were inflicted when Rowland was caring for Lewis on his own while Graham slept.

Both had admitted a child cruelty charge as they accepted they failed to provide medical aid for Lewis within a reasonable time.

Mr Justice O’Hara said: ‘On the morning of Friday November 20, even when the defendants realised Lewis needed medical treatment and needed it urgently they walked him to the hospital rather than ask for help’.

He went on to add: They claimed not to have had a phone available to them to ring an ambulance themselves.

‘It took approximately two hours for them to reach the hospital.’

The judge said there were ‘various worrying indicators’ of the indifference of Rowland and Graham to their son’s plight.

After Lewis was transferred to hospital in Belfast in November 2015, the parents declined an offer to stay with him, despite being made aware how gravely ill he was.

The judge added: ‘Almost three years later, when the police arrived at their home and offered to rush them to Belfast to see Lewis, who was at that point very close to death, they declined to accept that offer.’

He said the actions of foster parents who looked after Lewis for the three years after he was injured ‘were truly heroic and utterly selfless’.

He added: ‘All Lewis had was his hearing and a little mobility, but very little indeed.

‘He could not see, nor could he talk, but he could smile and make happy noises almost imperceptibly, but enough for them to spot.’

The judge said Rowland continued to deny any responsibility for the murder and had attempted to put the blame onto medical professionals for his son’s death.

He added: ‘The overwhelming likelihood is that at some point during the middle of the night Rowland lost his temper with Lewis, shook him violently, and caused the terrible injuries which ultimately led to his death.

‘This was probably a one-off incident.’

The judge said Graham had not inflicted any injury on Lewis but she should ‘have known and done better’ in relation to seeking medical help for her son.

PSNI Detective Chief Inspector Kerrie Foreman said it was a ‘totally tragic and distressing case’.

She added: ‘The most cowardly and brutal of actions have taken a young, defenceless and innocent life.

‘After Lewis sustained his initial injuries he was taken into the care of a foster family.

‘The care, attention and kindness, which this family gave to Lewis, are in stark contrast to the cruelty demonstrated by his own father.

‘My thoughts are with the foster family and those loved ones who continue to grieve, and indeed with all who have been touched by the sadness of the murder of young Lewis Rowland.’