The jury is deliberating in the trial of a man accused of killing his former fiancee’s baby seven years ago.
Philip Doyle (34) of Tinakilly, Aughrim, Co Wicklow, had 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.
Following a ruling by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy last week, the charge of murder was reduced to manslaughter.
The jury of six men and five women have been considering their verdict for just under two hours and will continue their deliberations this morning.
The court has heard that the baby was taken to Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin, in the early hours of April 4th, but died the next day. The prosecution alleges that bruising over the child’s body was caused by Mr Doyle. The defence denies this.