B (Children)

Transcribed from the Official Tape Recording by Apple Transcription Limited Suite 204, Kingfisher Business Centre, Burnley Road, Rawtenstall, Lancashire BB4 8ES Telephone: 0845 604 5642 � Fax: 01706 870838

Counsel for the Local Authority: Mr Stonor Counsel for the Mother: Miss Moulder Counsel for F2: Mr Armstrong Solicitor for the Child: Miss Hunter Hearing dates: 18th August 2014, 11th & 12th September 2014 ____________________

He emphasised the difficulty in timing the injury and it is fortunate that no underlying brain injury or bleeding was identified. He said that, "At the time of the fracture she may have shown signs of acute head trauma. That is to say headache, crying in pain or concussion." Of the bruising to both ears, he described it as, "Quite extensive, caused by a blunt trauma which would have been very painful and which would have been very clear to any carer as to when it had occurred." Those were, as I say, all lacking a suitable history.

Finally, a person comes within the pool of possible perpetrators when the evidence establishes that there is a likelihood or real possibility that the given person perpetrated the injuries in question. Where a pool of possible perpetrators consists of a small number of people, it would be wrong to exclude one on the basis there is no real possibility that the individual inflicted the harm or caused the injuries. The court must be satisfied on the balance of probabilities that the other person inflicted the harm or caused the injuries.

She also goes on to make observations about delayed motor skills, which has been caught up now and may or may not be significant. She noted that despite the mother's commitment to the girls, her vulnerability and difficulty in managing behaviour, which in A's case she attributed to that frightening and odd behaviour.