Sandra Higgins trial evidence concludes in baby harm case

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

Evidence has concluded in the trial of childminder Sandra Higgins, who is charged at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court with intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to a 10-month-old baby at her home in Cavan on 28 March 2012. She has pleaded not guilty. The proceedings were reported on 28 April 2017.

The report said Higgins was alleged to have caused the injuries by shaking the child. Retired consultant paediatrician Dr Christopher Woods told the trial he believed the child had suffered non-accidental injury on more than one occasion. He said he had reviewed the child’s files and medical reports but had not personally examined the child; under cross-examination, he acknowledged that this meant he was reliant on the information provided to him.

Defence witness Dr Peter Flynn, a consultant paediatric neurologist, said a CT scan showed acute bleeding on the brain and an MRI showed no spinal-cord damage. He said damage would usually be done to that area in cases of shaking.

Closing speeches before Judge Martin Nolan were due to begin on a Tuesday, according to the report.