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| Child cruelty charges: Parents charged over injuries to four-week-old baby | Child cruelty charges: Parents charged over injuries to four-week-old baby |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The parents of a four-week-old baby who suffered a fractured skull, brain injuries and broken ribs have been charged with child cruelty offences. | The parents of a four-week-old baby who suffered a fractured skull, brain injuries and broken ribs have been charged with child cruelty offences. |
| Amanda Fulton, 31, and her husband Christopher Fulton, 30, are charged over alleged offences on 7 November. | Amanda Fulton, 31, and her husband Christopher Fulton, 30, are charged over alleged offences on 7 November. |
| The court heard the baby is thought to have long-term brain injuries and be blind in both eyes. | The court heard the baby is thought to have long-term brain injuries and be blind in both eyes. |
| The couple, from Rockfield Gardens, Mosside, County Antrim, face the same four charges. | |
| They are accused of grievous bodily harm with intent, two counts of child cruelty involving two different children and causing or allowing a child to suffer serious physical harm. | They are accused of grievous bodily harm with intent, two counts of child cruelty involving two different children and causing or allowing a child to suffer serious physical harm. |
| The couple appeared at Coleraine Magistrates' Court on Monday to face the charges but a press ban prevented proceedings from being reported. | The couple appeared at Coleraine Magistrates' Court on Monday to face the charges but a press ban prevented proceedings from being reported. |
| Injuries to another child | Injuries to another child |
| The ban was lifted at the court on Friday by a district judge. | |
| A police officer told the court the baby was taken to a GP on 7 November before being rushed to hospital in an ambulance. | |
| The infant was found to have a fractured skull, a bleed on the brain, a laceration to its liver and broken ribs. | The infant was found to have a fractured skull, a bleed on the brain, a laceration to its liver and broken ribs. |
| The court heard the baby had now been taken off life support and was able to breathe for itself, but was thought to have long-term brain injuries. | |
| On further investigation, another of the couple's children was found to have discolouration on the back of their skull and ear. | On further investigation, another of the couple's children was found to have discolouration on the back of their skull and ear. |
| A police officer told the court the couple could not explain the injuries to their children, but accepted they had not been in the care of anyone else. | A police officer told the court the couple could not explain the injuries to their children, but accepted they had not been in the care of anyone else. |
| The officer said a medical expert believed the injuries to the baby were "non-accidental" and had not been caused during birth. | The officer said a medical expert believed the injuries to the baby were "non-accidental" and had not been caused during birth. |
| The officer said the fact some of the infant's rib fractures were healing led the medical expert to believe this was "not one isolated incident". | The officer said the fact some of the infant's rib fractures were healing led the medical expert to believe this was "not one isolated incident". |
| The police officer also told the court that a death threat, believed to be from a loyalist paramilitary group, has been issued against the couple threatening them if they leave prison. | The police officer also told the court that a death threat, believed to be from a loyalist paramilitary group, has been issued against the couple threatening them if they leave prison. |
| 'Vilified' | 'Vilified' |
| The officer said there were "high tensions" in the Mosside area because of the case. | The officer said there were "high tensions" in the Mosside area because of the case. |
| A defence barrister said the Fultons were "living every parent's worst nightmare". | A defence barrister said the Fultons were "living every parent's worst nightmare". |
| He told the court threats had been made against the couple in Hydebank and Maghaberry prisons, where they are currently on remand. | |
| The barrister also showed the court threats that had been made on social media against his clients. | The barrister also showed the court threats that had been made on social media against his clients. |
| On Monday, in court, the barrister said his clients had been "vilified" due to press coverage of the case and added they were entitled to the presumption of innocence. | On Monday, in court, the barrister said his clients had been "vilified" due to press coverage of the case and added they were entitled to the presumption of innocence. |
| He told the court the alleged baby victim had been born prematurely and weighed five pounds at birth. | He told the court the alleged baby victim had been born prematurely and weighed five pounds at birth. |
| Police objected to a bail application on the grounds of the risk of further offending, interference with witnesses and tensions in the Mosside area. | Police objected to a bail application on the grounds of the risk of further offending, interference with witnesses and tensions in the Mosside area. |
| Bail was refused and the couple were remanded in custody. | Bail was refused and the couple were remanded in custody. |
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