The aunt of an infant killed by his the fiancé of his mother has told the Central Criminal Court the family’s lives will never be the same again.
34-year-old Philip Doyle of Tinakilly, Aughrim in Co. Wicklow is to be sentenced for the manslaughter of baby Ross Murphy at Creagh Demesne, Gorey in Co. Wexford on April 5th 2005.
Leona Murphy sobbed loudly as her sister Adele told the court how she remained heartbroken by the death of baby Ross who was taken from them tragically when just 3-and-a-half months old.
He suffered fatal injuries consistent with ‘shaken baby syndrome’ while alone in the care of Leona’s fiancé Philip Doyle at their home in Gorey.
The painter-decorator lied to everyone including medical staff for 3 weeks claiming nothing unusual had happened.
He then changed his story and claimed to have tripped while holding the baby.
In a letter read out to the court he apologised for his lies and said he will have to live with Ross’s death for the rest of his life.
He will be sentenced on Tuesday.
