Sandra Higgins on trial over serious harm charge

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Sandra Higgins was on trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court accused of intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to a ten-month-old baby at her Cavan home on 28 March 2012. She pleaded not guilty. The proceedings were reported on 13 June 2018.

On the second day of the trial, consultant paediatrician Dr Christopher Hobbs read from hospital reports describing brain haemorrhages, facial bruising, detached retinas and rib fractures. He said the pattern of bruising and fractures was “solid evidence” of abuse. He also said the combination of bleeding on the brain, retinal haemorrhage and brain dysfunction pointed to non-accidental trauma.

Dr Hobbs said one radiologist’s report placed the rib fractures at least seven to ten days old. He accepted a defence suggestion that another radiologist had said they were at least two or three weeks old, but said bruises could not be dated. He also accepted that he had previously said bruises on the baby’s back appeared yellow.

The doctor agreed that the baby’s parents had reported she fell and banged her head at least once in their care. He also agreed that Higgins’ diary entries about earlier vomiting did not suggest a perfectly well child. He added that, although the baby had an ear infection that morning and might not have been fully well, she was not seriously ill or taking fits at that stage.

Reading from medical records, Dr Hobbs said the baby’s mother had told doctors that Higgins gave explanations for bruises, including the child falling and bumping her head on toys. The trial was continuing before Judge Pauline Codd and a jury.