Doctor raised concerns over toddler who was ‘killed and neglected’ by his mother

Kimberley Hainey denies murdering Declan, concealing his body and pretending that he was still alive to prevent a police investigation.

A doctor raised concerns over a toddler who was allegedly murdered by his mother when a health visitor was unable to check on him.

Kimberley Hainey, 37, denies murdering Declan, concealing his body and pretending that he was still alive to prevent police investigating his death.

Dr Daniel Brandon was giving evidence at the trial of Hainey on Tuesday.

He told advocate depute Andrew Stewart QC, prosecuting, that a special meeting was called on March 5 last year at his practice, because there had been no contact with Declan for a considerable time.

The GP, who is based at the Love Street Medical Centre in Paisley, said: “The health visitor had been trying to make contact with Declan for some time. We agreed to arrange a meeting for the next Wednesday. If there was no contact we would refer the matter to social services.”

The High Court in Glasgow has heard that Declan was found dead in his cot at his home at Bruce Road, Paisley, on March 30 last year.

Dr Brandon told the court that he last saw Declan in December 2008 when Hainey brought him in for treatment for nappy rash.

The GP said that he had treated Hainey on her own on a number of occasions and was concerned because she was smelling of alcohol.

Dr Parag Patel, who is also based at the Love Street Medical Centre, was shown social work records relating to Declan by defence QC Edward Targowski.

Mr Targowski told the jury these showed that social work organisation Family Matters had no concerns about the toddler who was almost two years old when he died.

Hainey is accused of assaulting, wilfully ill-treating and neglecting her son Declan over a 19-month period between September 1, 2008, and March 30, last year at 45 Bruce Road, Paisley.

The Crown has charged Hainey with either murdering her son or of neglecting him by failing to provide medical care for him whereby his physical and psychological development were impaired.

The trial before Lord Woolman continues.