Jury in trial of child minder warned not to base verdict on sympathy

The judge in the trial of a registered child minder accused of assaulting a baby in her care has told a jury their decision should not be based on sympathy.

The eight men and four women have retired to consider a verdict at the Central Criminal Court in the trial of Sandra Higgins, who denies intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to the 10-month-old child at her home in The Beeches, Drumgola Wood in Cavan.