Mother on trial over baby daughter’s alleged skull fracture

Woman (21) charged with assault causing harm to her child and wilful neglect

A neglect and assault case concerning a five-month-old baby girl from Co Clare allegedly sustaining a skull fracture and other bone injuries has come before Ennis Circuit Court.

The baby's 21-year-old mother appeared at Killaloe District Court last week, charged with the assault causing harm of her daughter on two dates last year.

The woman was also charged with wilfully neglecting the child on dates between August 23rd, 2014, and February 13th, 2015.

The baby’s 23-year-old father also appeared in court last week, charged in connection with the wilful neglect of the baby girl between August 23rd, 2014, and February 13th, 2015.

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Judge Patrick Durcan sent the two forward for trial to the current sittings of Ennis Circuit Court.

The two cases appeared before Judge Gerald Keys at Ennis Circuit Court on Tuesday, where they were adjourned to May.

Bruising

It will be alleged that the child was admitted to University Hospital Limerick (UHL) on February 13th, 2015, for the treatment of a fractured left arm and bruising to the face.

It will be alleged that medics at the hospital then carried out a full skeletal survey of the baby that detected older injuries - a healing fracture of the left tibia, a healing fracture of the right femur, and an older right-sided skull fracture.

In preparation for the case, a psychological report is to be carried out on the mother.

Gordon Deegan

Gordon Deegan

Gordon Deegan is a contributor to The Irish Times