A father who denies murdering his 20-month-old son told gardai the toddler had twice fallen on the night he died, the Central Criminal Court was told today.
Garda Sergeant PJ Rowan told the court the accused, Mr Yusif Ali Abdi, claimed his son Nathan's death was an accident when questioned by gardai on the day of the killing.
Mr Abdi told gardai the toddler fell as he was cradling him and he did not murder his son.
Mr Abdi said he wanted to spend time with Nathan as he had not seen him for a number of weeks and had missed him.
He said he was holding the baby and "the last thing I remember was Nathan falling on the floor". He told the gardai he brought Nathan to the kitchen where the child fell again.
Mr Abdi then checked to see if his son was bleeding and phoned an ambulance.
When asked by gardai if "Nathan died a violent death last night" the accused made no response.
Mr Yusif Ali Abdi (30) originally from Somalia but now resident at The Elms, College Road, Clane, Co Kildare denies murdering Nathan Bakara Andrew Ali on 17th April 2001 at College Road, Clane.