THE TRIAL of a man accused of murdering his former fiancee’s baby at their home has heard evidence the infant was lying naked on a table when ambulance crew arrived.
Philip Doyle (34), Tinakilly, Aughrim, Co Wicklow, has pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court to murdering Ross Murphy, aged 3½ months, at Creagh Demesne, Gorey, Co Wexford, on April 5th, 2005.
Leona Murphy (28), had previously told the court that on April 3rd, 2005, she had gone out to get a DVD, leaving the baby alone with Mr Doyle in the house they shared.
The prosecution alleges Ross sustained injuries suggesting shaken baby syndrome and that medical evidence will be given in relation to this.
The court heard the baby was initially taken to Wexford General Hospital on March 31st, 2005. He was kept in for observation because of a rash on his neck and released on Sunday, April 3rd.
He returned to the hospital that evening and was rushed to Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital Crumlin early the next morning, but died the next day.
Emergency medical technician Ray Lacey told the court he received a call on April 3rd saying a baby was very unwell and he was told the infant was in possible cardiac arrest. He told Paul Carroll, prosecuting, that on arrival the child was not moving and was quite pale.
Under cross-examination, Mr Lacey agreed with Giollaiosa Ó Lideadha SC that he had said in his Garda statement “the baby was naked lying on the table” and there were “no visible marks to the body or face”.
GP Dr Sandra Clare told Tom O’Connell SC, prosecuting, that Ross was a very healthy baby. She told the court she first saw him on January 5th, 2005, and he had a mild infection in his mouth.
She saw him again on March 1st when he had a mild respiratory tract infection. He was given a full examination but was otherwise fine. On March 29th he had a cough that persisted in the night but otherwise had no abnormalities, bar small spots on his face.
Public health nurse Catherine Keane told Mr Carroll she visited the boy and his mother at their home on December 16th, 2004. She said the mother and baby were well. She gave the baby a full examination on January 25th and he was “thriving”.
Ambulance officer Brendan Crowley told Mr O’Connell of an emergency call relating to a baby who was not breathing, taken at 6.28pm on April 3rd, 2005, and lasting six minutes, 38 seconds.
He told the court the ambulance arrived at the house at 6.39pm and left at 6.54pm before arriving at Wexford General Hospital at 7.23pm.
Caroline Wafer, who took the 999 call, told Mr Ó Lideadha under cross-examination that a male voice had come on the phone and described what was happening. She said she had to get people to do their best in such situations, and agreed this was what Mr Doyle had appeared to do.
The trial continues before a jury, presided over by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy.