A medical student charged with an assault in which his two-month-old baby allegedly suffered brain damage was yesterday remanded in continuing custody with consent to bail. His wife, who is charged with child neglect, was also remanded on the same terms.
The 26-year-old former student in the Royal College of Surgeons and his wife (21) deny child neglect. The man, who is an Irish citizen, also denies assault causing serious harm to the baby.
The offences allegedly occurred at an unknown address on November 20th, 2002.
Dublin District Court heard yesterday that the couple had been granted High Court bail on Wednesday but had so far been unable to take it up. The State applied for a four-week remand for service of a book of evidence.
The High Court had heard that the couple were questioned by gardaí shortly after the alleged offence in 2002. The baby was taken into the care of the health board and will have to remain in care until his 18th birthday because he is suffering from brain damage.
The DPP decided to prosecute in January 2003, but at that stage the couple had gone to England. They had followed their child's progress via e-mail. The medical student told the court he had gone to England because he had been suspended from his studies and had financial difficulties. It was not done to evade justice.
The High Court granted the couple independent bail of €15,000 each and ordered that they sign on twice a week and live at an address in Lucan. Yesterday, their solicitor, Mr Mark Fitzgibbon, said there was consent to the State's application for a four-week remand.
Judge James Scally remanded the couple to appear at Kilmainham District Court on September 16th.