Baby’s inquest told assault led to early birth

The mother of a baby boy who died after being born prematurely accused his father of assaulting her like “an animal” and causing her waters to break.

At Dublin Coroner’s Court, Gillian Mills claimed her ex-partner Darren Byrne deliberately sat on her back when she was 21 weeks’ pregnant causing the membrane of the amniotic sac protecting the foetus to rupture prematurely.

Mr Byrne has strenuously denied the allegation.