‘Emily was screaming and crying’

A woman accused of the manslaughter of her profoundly disabled daughter told gardaí that she was a “demented mother with a screaming child” that morning.

Offaly GP Bernadette Scully, aged 58, is charged with unlawfully killing Emily Barut, aged 11, at their home at Emvale, Bachelor’s Walk, Tullamore, by an act of gross negligence involving the administration of an excessive quantity of chloral hydrate on September 15, 2012. She has pleaded not guilty and is on trial at the Central Criminal Court.

Insp Ger Glavin of Portlaoise Garda Station testified he invited Ms Scully to Tullamore Garda Station on September 20. She attended voluntarily and gave a statement about the death of her daughter, who had severe epilepsy, microcephaly and cerebral palsy.