Mother's neglect of daughter's suffering eventually led to her murder - court told

Published 3 Oct 2012 15:23

A mother's neglect of the suffering of her baby daughter eventually led to her child's murder at the hands of her partner, a court heard today (Wednesday).

Dungannon Crown Court was told that for whatever reason, 27-year-old Rachel Martin, from Kesh, turned a blind eye to the sexual and physical abuse of her 15-month-old baby Millie by her 33-year-old former partner Barry McCarney, from Trillick.

The claims were made by prosecuting QC Ciaran Murphy as both mother and former lover went on trial facing charges linked to baby Millie's death on December 11 2009, after being rushed to the Erne Hospital from her Glebe Park home in Enniskillen the previous evening.

The jury of nine men and three women were told that McCarney, who denies murder, is also accused of sexually penetrating the infant girl with a part of his body, either a finger or erect penis, between December 8 and 11, 2009.

He is also charged with unlawfully and maliciously causing the child grievous bodily harm between November and December 2009, and her death by an unlawful act on December 11.

Millie's mother is accused of failing to protect her from the unlawful act that caused her death, and wilfully neglecting her in a manner likely to cause her unnecessary suffering, between September 1, 2009, and December 12, 2009.

Mr. Murphy claimed that the brain and other injuries which led to Millie's death, according to the medical evidence, must have been caused a short time before her lifeless and limp body was rushed to hospital by McCarney as Martin was out buying him a KitKat.

The trial is expected, to last up to eight weeks.

For full report seen tomorrow's edition of The Impartial Reporter.

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This article appeared in Impartial Reporter 03 Oct 12

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