US radiologist tells childminder trial that bleeding around baby's brain does not point to diagnosis of baby shaking

A US paediatric radiologist gave evidence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in the trial of a childminder accused of assaulting a baby. Sandra Higgins, aged 34, of The Beeches, Drumgola Wood, Cavan town, County Cavan has pleaded not guilty to intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to a ten-month-old child in her care on 28 March 2012. Dr Julie Mack, testifying by video-link for the defence, stated that bleeding identified on the child's brain scans was too limited to indicate the rupture of larger blood vessels typically associated with abusive head trauma. She suggested the bleeding on the brain membranes could have resulted from bruising caused by impact. Under cross-examination, Dr Mack acknowledged disagreeing with standard medical consensus on the mechanisms of injury in shaking cases and admitted unfamiliarity with certain clinical findings and medical reports concerning the child's injuries. The trial before Judge Patricia Ryan and jury continues.