Partner of Doncaster woman whose two-year-old son was allegedly murdered claims he cannot explain child's injuries

The partner of a woman whose two-year-old son was allegedly murdered told police he wished he could explain the youngster’s injuries “from the bottom of his heart”.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

A Sheffield Crown Court trial has heard how 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.

The jury has also heard how Keigan was found to have also suffered fractured vertebrae and ribs.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

During a re-cap today, October 20, of Mr Currie’s police interviews when he was asked how Keigan came by his serious injuries including the fatal head injury, he told police: “I wish I could help you. From the bottom of my heart I wish I could.”

Pictured is toddler Keigan O'Brien, of Doncaster, who was allegedly murdered by his mother Sarah O'Brien and her partner Martin Currie after the two-year-old suffered head injuries in January.Pictured is toddler Keigan O'Brien, of Doncaster, who was allegedly murdered by his mother Sarah O'Brien and her partner Martin Currie after the two-year-old suffered head injuries in January.
Pictured is toddler Keigan O'Brien, of Doncaster, who was allegedly murdered by his mother Sarah O'Brien and her partner Martin Currie after the two-year-old suffered head injuries in January.

Mr Currie told police Keigan had previously suffered a lump to his head some time before his death after he had fallen down stairs and had developed black eyes but no hospital treatment was sought.

He also said he had held the youngster’s jaw on one occasion to help Sarah O’Brien give him medicine.

Mr Currie added that on the morning Keigan was taken to hospital on January 8 he had checked on him in his bedroom and had discovered him lifeless and he told police: “I pulled the covers off. Moved his arm and went to turn him over and he’s just flopped.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Mr Currie added he picked Keigan up and shouted Sarah and he said, “He was pale and I noticed blue lips”, and as he applied CPR blood came out of his mouth.

When further questioned if Mr Currie knew how Keigan had sustained all his injuries he replied, “No”, and said, “I wish I had answers for you, but I don’t.”

Detective Constable Simon Taylor stated that when he arrested Mr Currie on suspicion of committing the murder of Keigan O’Brien the accused replied: “I feel sick.”

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.

Read More
Expert suggests fatally-injured toddler's body was shutting down hours before he...

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our advertisers - and consequently the revenue we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription.

Subscribe to The Star website and enjoy unlimited access to local news and information online and on our app. With a digital subscription, you can read more than 5 articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content.

Visit https://www.thestar.co.uk/subscriptions now to sign up.

Our journalism costs money and we rely on advertising, print and digital revenues to help to support them. By supporting us, we are able to support you in providing trusted, fact-checked content for this website.

Thank you

Nancy Fielder, editor