Inquest hears that ‘vigorous’ shaking led to baby’s death
A PATHOLOGIST who carried out a post-mortem examination on a three-month-old west Belfast girl still believes that “vigorous” shaking caused the baby’s death.
Dr James Lynas was giving evidence at the third day of an inquest into Caragh Walsh’s death at her home four years ago.
Her father Christopher O’Neill, whose distressing 999 emergency call was heard by the court previously, was acquitted of her murder last year.
Mr O’Neill sat solemnly with family yesterday while Caragh’s mother Tammie-Louise Walsh was supported by relatives.
Before the evidence session, those in attendance were given the opportunity to leave the courtroom due to the distressing nature of what the medics were about to say.
All family members remained seated.
Dr Lynas noted in his report following Caragh’s post-mortem that a head injury was the cause of death.
Yesterday he verified that he still believed this to be the case despite the acquittal of Mr
O’Neill at criminal trial in February last year.
Describing her head injury as “beyond the mild spectrum”, Dr Lynas provided details on the 13-week-old’s various other injuries including a red haemorrhage in her right eyelid, swelling on her elbow and bleeding in the fat on her chest.
He said “symmetrical” pressure on her chest could have occurred when she was lifted.
On Tuesday a doctor based in the United States said via video-link that he believed Caragh’s injuries could have been caused by the skeletal disorder rickets, something that Dr Lynas disputed when the point was put to him by Ronan Lavery QC.
Mr Lavery is representing the baby’s father during the five-day inquest at Belfast’s Laganside Courthouse.
The type of brain injury the baby suffered is known as a triad and incorporates abnormal
breathing. In the 999 phone call made to the emergency services baby Caragh can be heard struggling for breath.
Dr Lynas added that triad was an indicator of a non-accidental injury.
Questioned by Mr Lavery on whether shaking a child was a normal reaction to try and help it if in distress, Dr Lynas responded: “As a medic, I wasn’t trained to shake a child.”
The inquest will continue today and ends tomorrow.