Childminder told gardai that baby was not assaulted in her care, trial hears

A childminder has pleaded not guilty to intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to a ten-month-old baby at her home in Cavan town on 28 March 2012. Sandra Higgins, aged 34, of The Beeches, Drumgola Wood, Cavan told gardai during interview in April 2012 that the infant was not assaulted in her care and that she treated the child as one of her own. She described witnessing a seizure that day after the baby awoke from an afternoon sleep. Medical evidence presented to Dublin Circuit Criminal Court included consultant paediatrician Dr Alan Finan's testimony regarding extensive bruising across the child's body and haemorrhaging at the back of both eyes. The registered childminder acknowledged failing to keep some records properly but denied deliberately creating documentation to cover up any incident. The trial before Judge Patricia Ryan is scheduled for six days with a jury of eight men and four women.