Baby suffered 'catastrophic injuries' in dog attack, inquest hears

'The events surrounding the tragic death of Reuben are clearly devastating for his parents'

A baby boy who was attacked by his parents’ Staffordshire bull terrier died of “catastrophic injuries”, an inquest has heard.

Reuben McNulty was just two weeks old when he was attacked by one of his family’s two dogs at their home in Yaxley, Cambridgeshire, in the early hours of 18 November last year.

He was admitted to hospital that same day but died at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge on 13 December aged five weeks.

David Heming, Cambridgeshire's senior coroner, said Reuben “suffered catastrophic injuries...as a result of being attacked by his parents’ Staffordshire bull terrier at their home address”.

He said Reuben suffered a traumatic brain injury, with complications of renal failure and gastrointestinal failure.

“All these injuries are consistent with a dog attack,” he said.

He added: “The events surrounding the tragic death of Reuben are clearly devastating for his parents and I would like to express my condolences and extend my sympathies towards them.”

Mr Heming opened the hearing in Huntingdon on Monday and adjourned it for a full inquest on 16 May this year.

Paramedics were called to the family home in Wykes Road, Yaxley, and Reuben was taken to Peterborough City Hospital with severe head injuries but later transferred to Addenbrooke’s.

His parents, Daniel McNulty and Amy Litchfield, are believed to have been questioned by police and released pending further inquiries.

Police said in a statement in December that two Staffordshire bull terriers had been destroyed.

It added: “A 28-year-old woman and a 31-year-old man, both from Yaxley, who were arrested on suspicion of child neglect, have been released under investigation.

“The death is not being treated as suspicious and has been handed to the coroner.”

Additional reporting by Press Association