Parents of baby girl with ‘top-to-toe’ skin infection prosecuted for neglect

The parents of an infant girl with “top-to-toe” skin infection were prosecuted yesterday for wilful neglect of the child.

The young parents — the mother and father are both 19 years old — appeared before Cork District Court yesterday.

Because of the seriousness of the allegations in the case, the Director of Public Prosecutions decided the case could be dealt with at District Court level on a plea of guilty only.

Otherwise, the matter would have to be heard by judge and jury at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.

Subject to the defendants pleading guilty to the charges, Judge Leo Malone said that he would accept jurisdiction to deal with the case after an outline of the allegations was given yesterday.

Inspector Bill Duane said that on Feb 21, 2012, the four-month-old was brought to Cork University Hospital by her parents suffering from severe eczema and a secondary bacterial infection.

During the period of the child’s treatment in hospital, the mother of the child received extensive education from medical staff on the management of eczema, Insp Duane said.

On discharge from hospital, the mother was told to bring the child back one week later for an updated examination. However, it is alleged that she failed to bring the child to hospital.

It was not until Apr 2, 2012, that the child was brought back to hospital by referral from a doctor.

“The child was covered head to toe in eczema,” the inspector said yesterday.

For legal reasons, some matters in the case, including the identity of the parties, cannot be published.

Judge Leo Malone asked what the present position was with the child.

Defence solicitor Dennis Healy, who represented both parents, said the child was presently with her parents and was in perfect health.

Mr Healy said no interpreter was needed yesterday for the case involving two non-nationals but he said an interpreter would be necessary when the case was being heard.

The solicitor applied for a copy of the prosecution statements in order for the defendants to decide on whether to plead guilty or not guilty.

Judge Leo Malone adjourned the case for a fortnight for that purpose.