Vicious dad brutally beat the baby he travelled across world to adopt

Vicious dad brutally beat the baby he travelled across world to adopt

Ex-missionary attacked his son just weeks after child's tragic twin died.

December 2, 2001

SINEAD KING

The People

A VICIOUS former Free Presbyterian missionary brutally beat his 14-month-old Romanian son - just weeks after the baby's twin brother had died.

Geoffrey Briggs of Corcrain Drive, Portadown, Co Armagh, pleaded guilty on Friday to causing grievous bodily harm to the adopted infant on November 5, last year.

The baby was admitted to Craigavon Area Hospital with the injuries - just a few weeks after his twin brother had died.

Briggs, a burly six-footer, was charged on March 1 this year with injuring the second child, and -  following a series of court appearances - admitted the a date of January 7 has been set aside for a further hearing, to be followed by sentencing.

Neighbours and friends described the children as "beautiful" and said that the Briggs' happiness was complete with the boys from Eastern Europe.

The Romanian and Northern Ireland authorities were impressed by the Briggs' missionary background, especially as much of their work in Africa was centred on children.

A man was arrested and questioned in connection with the investigation, and was later released on police recognisance.

In a statement the police confirmed that Health Minister Bairbre de Brun had ordered civil servants to conduct the inquiry, and that MPs were also following the case.

[These are excepts from the orginal article]