John F. Kennedy's nephew has been cleared of child endangerment charges stemming from a scuffle in a New York hospital after the birth of his son earlier this year (12).

Douglas Kennedy, son of U.S. Senator Robert F. Kennedy and nephew of the assassinated president, was accused of child endangerment and harassment after he tried to take his two-day-old baby out of the maternity ward to get some fresh air.

Two nurses at Northern Westchester Hospital claimed he hurt them as they attempted to stop him leaving, but a judge cleared Kennedy of any wrongdoing during a hearing at a court in White Plains, New York on Tuesday (20Nov12).

Kennedy's lawyer, Robert Gottlieb, says, "Given the barrage of public attention, it took a great deal of courage from this judge and we really do appreciate it."

In his ruling, Mount Kisco Town Judge John Donohue insisted the two nurses overreacted by issuing a "code pink" order to signal a child had been abducted, and their actions caused Kennedy to slip and fall while carrying his baby.

Kennedy and his wife Molly are "thrilled that this nightmare has finally come to an end," according to Gottlieb.