08/03/2006

Baby strangled following birth

The High Court has deferred a bail application for Fermanagh woman Wendy Johnston, 34, who is accused of murdering her newly born son.

The details of the allegations against Ms Johnston came to light during bail application proceedings.

It is alleged that she had strangled her son after giving birth on her living room sofa.

Lawyers said the the accused had been found by her sister on the sofa two days after the birth. The dead infant was in the kitchen wrapped in a towel. She told detectives that none of her relatives knew that she was pregnant.

Ms Johnston was arrested on February 28.

A post mortem revealed that the baby had died from strangulation and had bruising to the head and shoulders.

The court heard that Ms Johnston had a history of alcohol abuse and self-harm.

Lord Justice Nicholson adjourned the bail application hearing pending reports.

(SP/GB)

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