Jury told of Baby Millie injuries

Rachel Martin, mother of Millie Martin, is charged with willful neglect

The jury of nine men and three women at the trial of Barry McCarney who is accused of murdering baby Millie Martin has been told the child suffered a multitude of injuries and a sexual assault which indicated it was “seriously abused over a period of time.”

McCarney (33) who was not Millie’s biological father, had been living with the child and her mother Rachel Martin at a house at Glebe Park in Enniskillen at the time it is alleged he carried out the murder. He is also accused of sexually assaulting 15-month-old Millie and causing her grevious bodily harm.
Martin is alleged to have allowed the death of her daughter and committed cruelty through willful neglect.

In the opening Prosecution submission at the case, which is expected to last for eight weeks, Ciaran Murphy QC outlined the injuries that he said were inflicted on the child by  McCarney.
After her “lifeless” body was brought to the Erne hospital on the night of Thursday December 11, 2009 she was pronounced dead from a head injury in the early hours of the following morning. A Doctor concluded that her death was caused by a “non-accidental’ injury.

The jury was also told that medical staff had observed ‘pin pricks” to the child’s groin area, extensive bruising and a burn to her right index finger.
Medical examinations revealed that the infant had seven broken ribs which were caused by “significant force” which the Prosecution stated was “way beyond the rough handling of a child.” Mr Murphy told the jury that the injuries were “not an accident.”

The baby also suffered bleeding to her eyes, bruising to her forehead, the back of her head and right earlobe, bruises to her legs, “significant” chest injuries and “trauma under her nappy area” which indicated she was the victim of a sexual assault. There was also evidence that the baby received a “blow” to her abdomin.

The court was told that doctors found no natural disease that could explain the range of injuries.

Prosecution QC Mr Murphy said, ‘Every child may get a bruise and a knock here and there but not as this child did.”

He told the jury that baby Millie received the injury which caused her death, shortly before she was brought to the Erne Hospital, while she was in the care of McCarney
He added that McCarney became involved with Rachel Martin three months before the baby’s death, around the time of the infant’s first birthday in September.
The Prosecution barrister added, “The injuries indicate a child that was seriously abused over a period of time when she was in the care of her mother and Barry McCarney.”

Regarding Rachel Martin’s role in the death of her baby daughter, Mr Murphy said, “The injuries were too severe and too many for her not to have known this child was being abused. She did not say or do anything about it. She did not do anything to stop it getting out of control. Had she taken steps to remove Millie Martin from he presence of Barry McCarney, I suggest this child would not have died.”