Parents who were facing charges of child cruelty have had the case against them withdrawn.
At Enniskillen Magistrates Court on Monday, the prosecution moved to withdraw the case against the two, who cannot be named to protect the identity of their children, in relation to an incident which took place on November 4, 2020.
It was initially reported twin boys were rushed to hospital after becoming seriously ill during the alleged incident.
Court papers stated it was two days later before medical and police involvement took place.
The three-month-old boys were first taken by ambulance to the South West Acute Hospital (SWAH), before being transferred to intensive care in the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast.
Also at a previous hearing in July, 2021, the barrister for the accused, referencing a report from a consultant haematologist said it “takes on an entirely different impression of the situation” and that it was a case that was unlikely to “go anywhere near meeting the test for prosecution”.
It was also disclosed during a hearing that the National Crime Agency (NCA) had become involved in the case.
Remarking on the case being withdrawn, District Judge Steven Keown said: “The saga comes to an end.”
Garry Smyth, solicitor for the parents, indicated to the court his client’s “unease” and how the case was dealt with by the authorities from the outset.
He reiterated their innocence and said the arrest and publicity around the case had a “significant detrimental” affect on their lives.
Judge Keown responded by saying it was a difficult case and the charges had been withdrawn “without any blemish on their character”.
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