Bulletin: Shaken baby syndrome: Sandra Higgins; UK based neuro pathologist Dr. Waney Squier questions shaken baby syndrome in "childminder's" case: "Dr Squier, who gave evidence for the defence, said that 15 years ago she began to question the diagnoses of suspected shaken baby syndrome and now does not agree it is a syndrome with any scientific validation. She said CT and MRI scans of the baby in this case supported a suggestion of impact to the head or a prior injury. She said this was more likely the cause of the baby's injury than shaking." (Evidence is completed; Jury will soon begin deliberations);

A UK-based neuropathologist has told the Circuit Criminal Court she no longer believes there is scientific validation to support what is known as shaken baby syndrome. Dr Waney Squier was giving evidence in the trial of 34-year-old childminder Sandra Higgins of The Beeches, Drumgola Wood, Cavan town. Ms Higgins denies causing serious harm to a ten-month-old baby at her home on 28 March, 2012. Closing arguments in the case will be heard tomorrow. Dr Squier, who gave evidence for the defence, said that 15 years ago she began to question the diagnoses of suspected shaken baby syndrome and now does not agree it is a syndrome with any scientific validation. She said CT and MRI scans of the baby in this case supported a suggestion of impact to the head or a prior injury. She said this was more likely the cause of the baby's injury than shaking. She said the bleeding on the brain could have been several weeks old and could also have been a re-bleed or reactivation of a prior injury caused by trauma or spontaneously. Dr Squier also said she did not believe it was possible to time the baby's injury because there were bruises of varying ages found on her. She also said it was possible for a baby to appear well for some time after a head injury before showing catastrophic symptoms.........She denied having "a deep seated conviction or fixed belief" about shaken baby syndrome. She said after 15 years of research, many of the elements of syndrome had been overturned by research. She believed the so-called "triad of symptoms" including brain injury, brain bleed and retinal bleeding was no longer reliable. "We cannot be sure these symptoms can be caused by shaking or only by shaking," she said.........

The evidence in the case has now concluded. The jury will hear closing arguments tomorrow."
http://www.rte.ie/news/2015/0622/709747-sandra-higgins/