Murder accused was seen trying to revive infant
Philip Doyle, aged 34, of Tinakilly, Aughrim, Co Wicklow has pleaded not guilty to murdering three-and-a-half-month-old Ross Murphy at 3 Creagh Demesne, Gorey, Co Wexford in Apr 2005.
Leona Murphy, aged 28, who is expecting her third child, previously told the court that on Apr 3 she went out to get a DVD, leaving her firstborn alone with Mr Doyle in the house they shared at Creagh Demesne. Aidan Murphy (no relation) said he met Ms Murphy outside his restaurant in Gorey that night and she asked him for a lift home.
He said he noticed blueness around the baby’s lips and there was no sound from him.
“Philip Doyle was trying frantically to revive the baby,” said Mr Murphy.
He said he got a call from Ms Murphy between 12pm and 1pm on Apr 5 saying the baby had died.
He said she told him not to say anything about seeing her in town and to say instead that he was passing the house and she ran out looking for help.
Under cross-examination by Giollaiosa Ó Lideadha SC defending, Mr Murphy agreed he offered to drive Ms Murphy, Mr Doyle, and the baby to the hospital on Apr 3 but they said they would wait for an ambulance.
Mr Murphy agreed he had said in his statement that the baby “appeared to get sick” and “vomited up a green kind of substance”.
He further agreed that Mr Doyle put the baby on the table, was giving him mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and was giving him chest compressions.
It is alleged by the prosecution that Ross sustained injuries that suggest shaken baby syndrome and that medical evidence would be given in relation to that.
The trial continues on Monday before a jury presided over by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy.
