An Irish nanny living illegally in America has been charged with violently assaulting a baby who later died, US authorities said.
Aisling McCarthy Brady, 34, from Quincy, Massachusetts, is alleged to have been the sole carer for the girl on January 14 - her first birthday - when she suffered injuries "consistent with abusive head trauma", authorities said. The baby, Rehma Sabir, died two days later in hospital after suffering brain damage.
McCarthy Brady was remanded on £315,000 bail after pleading not guilty to assault and battery on a child causing substantial bodily injury, but she may face a murder charge after an autopsy report by the Chief Medical Examiner is finalised, the district attorney's office said.
Eamon Gilmore, Ireland's Foreign Affairs Minister and deputy prime minister, said consular services were available for the family. "We normally provide assistance if somebody finds themselves in this situation," he said. "Any Irish citizen who gets in difficulty like this the consular services of my department are available to them. The consular services are available in this case."
Sameer Sabir, the baby's father, moved from London to the US where he lives with his wife who is originally from Karachi, Pakistan.
It is understood the nanny married Donald McCarthy in Massachusetts last year.
McCarthy Brady's family, including most of her nine brothers and sisters who also live in the US, have not approached the Department of Foreign Affairs for support. Her mother Margaret lives in the village of Lavey near Cavan town, about an hour outside Dublin.
McCarthy Brady is classed as undocumented or living illegally in the US. Immigration authorities said she arrived from Ireland in 2002 and was only permitted to stay for 90 days. She was arrested at the weekend on a charge of assault and battery on baby Rehma.
It is understood McCarthy Brady has worked as a nanny for 13 years and that she had been with the Sabir family for six months.
The Boston Herald reported that the baby had travelled "all over the world" including London, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. She also spent Christmas in London.
UK 
