Woman on tot assault charge
suspect, 42, in court over attack at family home
A WOMAN was charged with assault last night as a three-year-old girl battled for life.
The toddler is in a critical but stable condition at Crumlin Children’s Hospital in Dublin after being attacked in the family home on Saturday evening.
Emer Cannon, of Aubrey Grove, Quinn’s Road, Shankill, Co Dublin, was charged with section four assault at Bray District Court last night.
The 42-year-old was remanded in custody until Thursday when she will appear at Bray District Court at 10.30am. Medical treatment was also ordered for the accused.
Gardai were called to the scene at around 4pm on Saturday and the child was taken by ambulance under Garda escort.
She was put in a medicallyinduced coma on Saturday night and was being closely monitored by medics at the hospital.
Councillors yesterday expressed their sadness and shock over the attack.
Fine Gael’s Jim Gildea said: “It’s an extremely sad thing to happen. People are sympathetic, particularly towards the child.”
The Killiney-shankill representative said local people are hoping and praying for the infant’s recovery.
Fianna Fail’s Jennifer Cuffe also expressed her sadness over the incident, adding: “It’s a tragedy that something would happen to a child.”
A garda spokesman said: “At approximately 4.15pm, gardai attended the scene of an incident involving a child at a house in Shankill, Co Dublin.
“Arising from the incident a three-year-old girl was taken by ambulance to Our Lady’s Hospital, Crumlin.”
A dad of one, who lives around the corner from the quiet cul de sac, said: “This is tragic, so sad to hear. Myself and my wife were upstairs and we noticed a lot of Garda activity so we knew it was probably a bit more serious than a break-in. It’s such a quiet area. This is very upsetting.”