A grandmother from Ayrshire fervently hopes that a repugnant child abuser receives adequate punishment for the brutal mistreatment of her granddaughter. This monstrous character, Mark Tannahill, 38, has put this 56-year-old woman through torment for over three years since she took custody of her infant granddaughter. Following a trial, Tannahill was convicted of two charges at Kilmarnock Sheriff court.
The vile abuse spanned three months, during which Tannahill consistently terrorised the infant, leaving her with severe injuries that included broken ribs and a fractured skull. This poor child faced these traumatic experiences after already enduring the loss of her mother to cancer in August 2021. The mother had given birth to her daughter only eight weeks before her death.
The mother was just 30 weeks pregnant when she learnt about her ovarian cancer and a 20cm tumour. Forced to undergo a premature delivery at 34 weeks into the pregnancy, she continued to battle her severe cancer condition but tragically passed away eight weeks after giving birth.
During certain times, Tannahill was left alone with the newborn. However, the grandmother felt that something was awry. Tannahill had already subjected the infant to cruelty even before her mother’s funeral, with noticeable bruises on the baby’s face at the service.
The Ayrshire grandmother, who wishes to remain anonymous, has expressed concern for her toddler granddaughter and hopes that the court’s decision will ensure her safety. She described Tannahill as a monster who has caused tremendous suffering over the years.
The grandmother was alerted to the abuse when her dying daughter was combating cancer in a hospital in Glasgow. She witnessed Tannahill shouting obscenities at the crying baby, a shocking incident also noted by a gardener present at the time.
Appalled and concerned, the grandmother, who is also in the healthcare field, started noticing bruises on the baby. She decided to take the child to a hospital where the doctors quickly recognized the signs of abuse, alerted social services, and transferred custody of the infant to the grandmother.
According to the grandmother, the baby had visible bruising on her face at her mother’s funeral when she was barely ten weeks old. When confronted, Tannahill tried to justify the unusual signs by blaming ‘tummy time’ and the pressure of a dummy on her face. Although initially doubting her suspicions, the grandmother’s instincts and healthcare experience compelled her to take action, leading to the revelation of the infant’s abuse.
Believing her actions have saved her granddaughter’s life, the grandmother considers the outcome of the trial as justice for her daughter who always dreamed of being a mum. Now nearing three years old, the toddler is in good spirits and doing well. The grandmother expressed a sense of relief and triumph upon hearing the guilty verdict, describing it as the best Mother’s Day gift she could ever receive.
Without denying Tannahill’s abusive behaviour, he claimed that his excessive force was unintentional, that he held the premature baby so tightly he was unaware of his own strength.
The child was a miracle baby who survived a twin loss early in her mother’s pregnancy. Tannahill was convicted on charges of abusive or threatening behaviour, causing fear or alarm. Additionally, the court found him guilty of assaulting the baby, including shaking, compressing, and inflicting trauma leading to severe injury and potential risk to her life. The sentencing will take place at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court next month in Glasgow.
