A young child died from multiple fractures to the skull and extensive brain damage consistent with "multiple severe impacts to the head", a murder trial was told today.
State Pathologist Dr John Harbison told the Central Criminal Court the 20-month-old child's skull was so badly damaged that he was able to remove the brain through the cranial cavity without instruments.
The toddler's father, Mr Yusif Ali Abdi (30), originally from Somalia but now with an address at The Elms, College Road, Clane, Co Kildare, has pleaded not guilty to murdering his son Nathan on April 17th, 2001 at College Road, Clane.
Questioned by prosecution counsel Mr Michael Durack SC about the extent of that injury, Dr Harbison replied it was "very extensive and very severe".
When asked if the injuries were consistent with an accidental fall, he said the child's injuries were too extensive to be consistent with that.