10-day wait for tests on girl

It could take up to 10 days before gardaí get the results of toxicological tests carried out on 11-year-old Emily Barut.

Both Emily and her mother, Dr Bernadette Scully, were found in an unconscious state at the family home in Tullamore, Co Offaly, over the weekend.

Dr Scully’s partner, Andrius Kozlovskis, made the discovery on Saturday night and contacted emergency services.

Emily was pronounced dead later that night and an autopsy proved inconclusive. Tests are now being conducted to determine if there was anything in her system that should not have been there.

Garda sources said this would take time, as the girl was on a substantial mount of medication in relation to her disability.

“We expect it will take a week to 10 days,” said a Garda source. “What will slow it down in a child like this, who’s on a lot of medication, is that it is hard to analyse blood with so much medication in it.”

Emily had cerebral palsy, was in a wheelchair, and required 24-hour care. She underwent an operation 10 days ago.

Garda sources have described the situation as “tragic”. Sources said Dr Scully looked after her daughter around the clock and that Emily would not have continued to live so long were it not for her mother’s care.

Dr Scully, 55, remains unconscious in the intensive care unit of Midlands Regional Hospital. Emily’s father, Turkish-born Haluk Barut, arrived on Sunday and went to the hospital. He used to run a restaurant in the town.

“Dr Scully is alive and in a coma and is expected to make a recovery,” said a garda.

He said it will be up to the doctors to determine whether she would be in a position to talk to gardaí.

Detectives believe she may have information that will be crucial to their investigation.

However, her state of mind may delay any interviews until doctors agree she is fit to do so.

Gardaí repeated yesterday that they are not looking to speak to anyone else in relation to the matter.

Dr Scully runs a large practice at the Medical Centre in Clonminch and has been living at her home on Bachelor’s Walk since 2003, when she returned to Ireland from Australia.

A native of Rhode, Co Offaly, Dr Scully is highly regarded by her patients and those who know her.

Locals continued to express their shock and sadness yesterday.