A former Irish soldier has lost an appeal against his conviction for the manslaughter of an 18-month-old boy.
John Reilly, 34, of Crooksling, Brittas in Co Wicklow, claimed to be suffering from sleep drunkenness when he killed Oisín Murphy-Reilly, the son of a cousin.
Reilly, who worked with UN weapon inspectors in Iraq, was given a five-year suspended sentence for manslaughter.
This morning, the Court of Criminal Appeal dismissed Reilly's argument, saying drunkenness could not be an excuse for violence.
The court was told the Director of Public Prosecutions would appeal the leniency of the sentence.
