Baby Joshua's death 'a complex case', gardaí tell inquest
A "large volume of medical evidence" will need to be considered in relation to the death of a four-month-old baby.
Gardai investigating the death of baby Joshua Smith plan to submit a file to the Director of Public Prosecution within weeks.
At Dublin Coroner’s Court Superintendent Tom Calvey described the case as ‘complex.’
“The matter is still under investigation, we expect the file to be forwarded to the DPP within the next six weeks,” Supt Calvey said. Asked how much time the DPP might require for a decision on whether to bring charges, Supt replied that six months should suffice.
“It’s a complex investigation. The DPP will have to consider a large volume of medical evidence,” Supt Calvey said.
Baby Joshua was born on August 30th, 2016 and died on January 1st, 2017. The infant's address was given as Barley Hill, Bohola, Co Mayo.
Dublin Coroner's Court previously heard that the baby boy's life support machine was switched off at Our Lady's Children's Hospital in Crumlin on January 1st, 2017. Baby Joshua was pronounced dead at 12.44pm by Dr Helen Daly.
The infant was formally identified by his mother to Garda Nicola Dolan of Ballyhaunis Garda Station at the hospital on the same day. An autopsy was carried out by State Pathologist Dr Marie Cassidy and she gave the cause of death as head trauma.
Coroner Dr Myra Cullinane adjourned the inquest for six months as requested by Gardai until September 6 2018.
