Courts / Mayo / Report

Nurse "not sure" if father was following her instructions, infant murder trial hears

Date
2018-03-05

Stage
Trial

Primary locality
Ballyhaunis

County
Mayo

Summary

A nurse who advised a father during an emergency call about his choking infant was uncertain whether her instructions were being followed, the Central Criminal Court heard today. Aine Watts, who worked with WestDoc medical service, took a call in 2013 from John Tighe of Lavallyroe, Ballyhaunis, County Mayo, after his baby began choking on tissue. Ms Watts told the court she instructed Mr Tighe to perform chest compressions and attempt to dislodge the obstruction, but was unsure if her guidance was being adhered to. Under cross-examination, she acknowledged prioritising airway clearance over CPR given the child's unresponsiveness. Mr Tighe, aged 40, has pleaded not guilty to murdering his son Joshua Sussbier Tighe on 1 June 2013. The prosecution alleges the tissue was deliberately placed in the child's throat; the defence maintains the six-and-a-half-month-old swallowed it independently. The trial before Justice Patrick McCarthy continues tomorrow.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Nurse "not sure" if father was following her instructions, infant murder trial hears. Charges or matters: murdering his son Joshua Sussbier Tighe at his home on June 1, 2013. Procedural stage: trial

When:

June 1, 2013 Hearing Or Sentence
2018-03-05 Publication

Why: Aine Watts told the trial of 40-year-old John Tighe that she did not advise Mr Tighe to carry out CPR because her priorities were to unblock the baby's airways and get medical experts to the scene as quickly as possible. CNI source report