A paediatrician has told the trial of a man accused of murdering his ex-fiancee’s baby, that injuries on the child were consistent with abusive head trauma.
Philip Doyle (34) of Tinakilly, Aughrim, Co. Wicklow has pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court to murdering 3½-month-old Ross Murphy at Creagh Demesne, Gorey, Co Wexford on April 5th, 2005.
The court has heard that the baby was initially taken to Wexford General Hospital on March 31st, 2005 because he was “lifeless” and getting sick on the bed. He was rushed to Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital Crumlin early next morning but died the next day.
Dr Colm Costigan, a consultant paediatrician at the children’s hospital, told Paul Carroll prosecuting that after observing Ross Murphy he reached the opinion that his injuries were consistent with abusive head trauma, which resulted in his death.
He said he was later given an account by gardaí that Mr Doyle had fallen with the baby but he said his opinion did not change as he said it did not explain all of the injuries or their severity.
Mr Doyle originally gave an account to gardaí that the baby had been shaking his head from side to side but in a statement to gardaí on April 27th, 2005 the accused said that he tripped on the corner of a mat and fell on a timber floor with the child in his arms.
The trial continues before a jury of seven men and five women.