Five-week-old with fractured skull and ribs could be left blind
Judge lifts ban on identification of cruelty accused NI couple as court told of baby’s appalling injuries
Further charges over wounds found on an older sister
Pair believed to face threat from paramilitaries
THE parents of a baby who suffered a fractured skull and bleed on the brain have been charged with child cruelty.
The five-week-old is thought to have long-term brain injuries and may be permanently blind. Details of the baby’s injuries emerged after a judge lifted a reporting ban yesterday following a media challenge.
Amanda and Christopher Fulton were remanded in custody.
THE parents of a baby who suffered a fractured skull, bleed on the brain and lacerated liver have been charged with child cruelty offences.
Amanda Fulton (31) and her husband Christopher (30) were remanded in custody.
The baby is thought to have long-term brain injuries and may be left permanently blind, a court heard.
Details of the horrific injuries sustained by the five-week-old emerged yesterday after a judge removed a blanket ban on reporting the case.
The order had been imposed earlier this week, when the pair appeared at Coleraine Magistrates Court.
In a highly unusual move, the judge had been told by defence lawyers that the only way to secure his clients’ safety was to completely ban all coverage of the case. It was supported by a police officer in court.
That unprecedented position was challenged by the Press and yesterday all restrictions were removed, with discretion urged in respect of the alleged victims.
The baby boy, who was born prematurely and currently weighs just 5lbs, was taken to hospital by his father on November 7.
He was initially placed on life-support, with his condition so poor that he could not be further examined for some time.
The infant was found to have a fractured skull and a bleed on the brain.
His liver was lacerated and there were multiple rib fractures, some of which were healing, suggesting they occurred well before the admission to hospital.
Amanda and Christopher Fulton, from Rockfield Gardens,
Mosside, Co Antrim, were arrested and stand charged with multiple offences including child cruelty.
There is evidence they are under a loyalist paramilitary threat.
The pair first appeared before Coleraine Magistrates Court on Monday, when they were jointly accused of causing grievous bodily harm to the baby on November 7.
Further charges relate to another older child who was examined after concerns were raised over the baby’s shocking injuries in hospital. The older child — a little girl — was found to have an abrasion below her eye and bruising to the back of her head.
The couple are accused of cruelty to this child and causing or allowing unnecessary suffering or injury.
A police officer said she believed the charges could be connected. The judge then took the unusual step of placing a blanket ban on all media coverage of the case as the defence and police contended that there was significant risk to both of the accused.
However, he indicated he wanted to see evidence of threat and submissions would be taken from the Press.
The case returned yesterday, and, after consideration, the judge agreed to remove the ban, leaving identification to the discretion of the Press.
The horrific details of the case were outlined during unsuccessful bail applications for the accused, in which it was confirmed the baby remains very seriously ill but is now breathing on his own.
A defence lawyer queried if ambulance staff had been interviewed to ascertain if any injuries might have been caused during transfer of the critically baby to hospital.
He also highlighted the baby was only recently born and enquired if there was an indication that the injuries were caused during labour.
But the court was told this had been ruled out by the examining doctor, along with the fact that delivery was by caesarean section.
The defence lawyer said the Fultons were “living every parent’s worst nightmare”, and were entitled to the presumption of innocence.
Bail was refused for both and the couple were remanded in custody to appear again by video-link next month.