Breaking news: Court told Ballymena toddler beaten to death

Liam Gonzales Bennett was just 20 months old when he suffered 31 bruises to his head, possibly caused by a clenched fist, Coroner Suzanne Anderson was told.

The child from Sunningdale Park, Ballymena, died at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast in February 2007. His mother and her ex partner were later questioned by police investigating the death, but no charges were ever preferred.

A murder inquiry was launched but the detective in charge, Debbie McMaster said: “ There wasn’t enough evidence to identify who had caused the injuries to Liam.”

The gruesome details of the baby’s death emerged during an inquest which heard how he was found unresponsive in his cot while his mother, Samantha Bennett was out shopping.

Her fiance at the time, Noel McKeown was looking after the boy and his older sister at the couple’s home in Sunningdale Park.

The court was told Mr McKeown had heard Liam cry and when he went to investigate found the baby was not breathing.

Mr McKeown who now lives in Australia, made a frantic call to Ms Bennett, who had been at the Tesco shop 10 minutes away, and then called an ambulance before beginning resuscitation efforts.

Ambulance crews were working on the child when Ms Bennett returned to the house.

Liam was rushed to Antrim Area Hospital but his condition was so grave he was transferred to an intensive care unit at the RVH. However, doctors were so concerned about the severity of his injuries they contacted police and social services.

Baby Liam died a day after his admission to hospital and a murder investigation was immediately launched.

A post mortem examination carried out two days later revealed multiple bruises at the back of his skull, on the left side of his head, his right forehead and the adjacent right area at the side of his skull.

Deputy state pathologist Dr Alistair Bentley said the injuries were consistent with being punched with a clenched fist.

“These were discreet bruises. Thirty-one in total, up to 21 inches in diameter. I have suggested that they were consistent with impact from an object or objects with a relatively small surface area, possibly the knuckles of a fist,” said Dr Bentley.

In his findings Dr Bentley described the cause of death as blunt force trauma of the head.

He said the injuries also caused swelling of the brain and bleeding into the eyes - which would have resulted in blindness.

“In view of the multiple blunt force trauma, the impact or role that shaking would have played would be irrelevant,” added Dr Bentley.

The inquest was told that Ms Bennett and her ex partner were interviewed by police on at least three separate occasions but offered no explanation for the injuries.

Ms McMaster, who has since retired, told the inquest a file had been submitted to the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) but police were directed that no further action be taken.

“A file was completed and a report was sent to the PPS for their direction and it came back no prosecution was to be taken in respect of either Samantha or Noel,” she said.

Later, Ms McMaster added: “Police are not physically looking for anyone else.”

The court also heard claims that Liam had fallen from a low stool on to a carpeted floor 10 hours before his collapse but medical experts dismissed this as a contributing factor in death.

Dr Nathaniel Cary, a forensic pathologist from Oxford, rejected as “flawed” any suggestion the injuries could have been caused by a fall.

“I do not accept that fatality would be a possible outcome from such a fall,” he said.

Dr Cary later added: “The multiplicity of the bruises indicates multiple blunt force impact such as with the knuckles of a fist.”

He claimed the nature and extent of the bruising would have had an almost immediate effect on the child’s behaviour adding: “A blind two-year-old would not appear normal.”

When asked by Ms Anderson: “You are in no doubt that this child suffered an assault” Dr Cary replied: “Yes.”

He said: “And the presentation was in close proximity to the assault. Within minutes. One of the forms of presentation may be the stoppage of breathing.”

Another doctor who examined Liam’s eyes after death said it was “inconceivable” he would have behaved normally for a 10-hour period prior to his death.

“We know from other cases that the overall well-being of an infant changes abruptly. At the time of the infliction of the injury his normal demeanour would have changed profoundly so that any person, doctor or otherwise, would recognise it.”

Ms Bennett, who was supported by family members in the public gallery, wept as graphic details of her son’s death were recounted to the court.

Mr McKeown, who is working abroad, was not present for the hearing and is due to give evidence tomorrow via Skype.

The baby’s father who lives in Tenerife was also not in court.