Toddler Zoe (3) dies as mother is charged with infant’s assault
Neighbours tell of their shock over tragic loss
A THREE-year-old girl who was the subject of an alleged assault in Dublin over the weekend has died.
Zoe Cannon was rushed to hospital following an incident at her home in Aubrey Grove, Shankill, in South Dublin on Saturday.
Her mother – Emer Cannon – is due to appear in court later today in connection to the alleged assault on her daughter.
Zoe was treated in the intensive care unit of Our Lady’s Hospital in Crumlin where she remained in a critical condition since her admission.
Her life support was withdrawn on Tuesday, and she passed away a short time later.
Emer Cannon, who is in her 40s, appeared at a special sitting of Bray District Court on Sunday night where she was charged with assault causing harm.
It’s understood Ms Cannon never came to the attention of gardaí prior to the alleged assault on Zoe, and there were no concerns about her daughter’s well-being.
The quiet cul-de-sac where the alleged assault took place was packed with emergency personnel and investigating officers in the aftermath of the incident.
Neighbours of the family of four said they could still not make sense of what had happened.
Shocking
“I don’t think anyone heard any commotion coming from the house,” said one local resident.
“I didn’t know the family that well, but the mother would often say hello and wave.”
She added: “It’s a very quiet neighbourhood and it’s shocking to hear of something like this happening so close to home.”
Ms Cannon is believed to have lived in the house for several years with her partner and two children.
Another neighbour described how she saw Ms Cannon being escorted into an unmarked car shortly after gardaí arrived at the scene.
“I must have seen about 20 emergency vehicles and gardaí on the road. I really didn’t know what had happened,” said the neighbour.
“After a while, I saw her walk slowly out of the house and into an unmarked car.
“Her head was down and she got into the vehicle before being driven off.”
The neighbour said she then saw Ms Cannon’s partner walk up to the house with his other child.
“The father wasn’t in the house at the time – he was out with the little boy,” she added.
“After the wife had gone, I saw him casually walk up to the house.
“This must have been before he realised what had happened.”
The elderly neighbour described Ms Cannon as “quiet”. “You would often see her walking up and down with the little girl,” she added.