Doncaster mum accused of murdering toddler claims she was "devastated" by her son's collapse

Sarah O’Brien, aged 33, of Bosworth Road, Doncaster, and her partner Martin Currie, aged 36, of no fixed abode, have denied murdering Ms O’Brien’s two-year-old son Keigan O’Brien after he died from head injuries on January 9.

Miss O’Brien today, October 21, told an on-going trial at Sheffield Crown Court: “I jumped off the settee and ran upstairs. I just saw Keigan laid on the floor."

She added: “I ran down and got my phone, and rang the ambulance and he was laid on the floor and Martin told me to, and I was in shock.

“I went downstairs to get my phone and while I was on my way back up the stairs I rang 999.

“I was screaming, shouting, because I didn’t know what to do.”

Katherine Goddard QC, defending, said Martin Currie had been trying CPR before police and paramedics did the same on their arrival before Keigan was taken to Doncaster Royal Infirmary and then Sheffield Children’s Hospital where he died the following day.

Miss O’Brien said: “I was feeling devastated and wondering what had gone on.”

She added that when she looked into her son’s eyes it was like “there was no life in him”.

The court heard bruises and marks were found on Keigan’s body as well as fractures to his vertebrae, ribs and a wrist.

Miss O’Brien told the court she had never done anything to harm her son and was not aware of her partner doing anything or that her son was in any distress before he was found lifeless on January 8.

She added Keigan had been clumsy and often fell over, and she claimed she had glanced into his room on the morning of January 8 before she took his siblings to school and discovered him lifeless later that morning.

Miss Goddard told the court Mr Currie had been going on pornographic and gambling websites before Miss O’Brien returned home.

When Miss O’Brien was asked how she felt when she was initially arrested for attempted murder while Keigan was still alive, she said: “My whole world came crashing down.”

She added she had not mistreated or abused Keigan and she did not think Martin Currie posed a risk and she said she did not murder her son.

Christopher Tehrani QC, defending Mr Currie, claimed Mr Currie had confronted Miss O’Brien when he found Keigan and he had been prepared to go along with things to save her.

Mr Tehrani told Miss O’Brien: “When you walked into that house he said, ‘What have you done?’, and you started crying and you said, ‘I’m sorry, I’m sorry’.

“And the account he gave and you gave to police was a tissue of lies in order to save you from being responsible for the death of your son.”

Sarah O’Brien and Martin Currie have also denied causing cruelty to a child by ill-treatment or neglect, and both also deny individual counts of causing or allowing the death of a child.

The trial continues.

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