A father accused of murdering his two children has told how he tried to save their lives by performing CPR.
Jordan Monaghan, 30, attempted to revive both three-week-old Ruby and Logan – aged 21 months – after they had both stopped breathing, a jury heard.
Monaghan, of Blackburn, Lancashire, is alleged to have smothered Ruby on New Year’s Day 2013 before murdering Logan eight months later. Monaghan denies the two counts of murder.
He replied ‘definitely not’ when Ben Myers, QC, defending, asked if he had caused the siblings harm or contributed to their deaths.
Jordan Monaghan (pictured), 30, has claimed that he attempted to revive both three-week-old Ruby and Logan – aged 21 months – after they had both stopped breathing, a jury heard
The hearing was told how Monaghan had stayed up to watch a film on New Year’s Eve while waiting give Ruby her 2am feed.
The children’s 28-year-old mother – Laura Gray – had gone to bed shortly after midnight.
Giving evidence, digger driver Monaghan told the jury how Ruby was not breathing when he went to check on her.
He said: ‘You could see in her face, the colour she had gone she was a really pale grey.
‘I went to pick her up from her Moses basket and that’s when I noticed. I shouted to Laura.
‘Laura has come down and taken Ruby off me and I rang for an ambulance.’
Monaghan, of Blackburn, is alleged to have smothered Ruby in 2013 before murdering Logan (both pictured) eight months later. Monaghan denies the two counts of murder
Mr Myers asked: ‘Had you done anything to cause that to happen to Ruby?’
Monaghan replied: ‘Definitely not. I was scared because I didn’t know what was happening to Ruby.
‘They (the emergency services) told me to do CPR. I had to pump her chest with two fingers and also give her mouth-to-mouth. It was awful.’
Monaghan, who is on trial at Preston Crown Court, Lancashire, went to hospital and was told Ruby had died of a suspected asthma attack.
The jury then heard that Monaghan and Miss Gray took Logan to see a doctor.
Monaghan said: ‘We were anxious that something was going to happen to Logan.
‘Because Rugby was in hospital; had been discharged while still being ill and then died. We thought the hospital had missed something.
‘We were anxious every time Logan got ill. Whether it was a little cough or something else, we would be anxious.’
Logan died on August 17 2019, the hearing heard. Monaghan had taken the toddler swimming but forgotten to take a nappy so returned home.
Monaghan said he left Logan asleep in his buggy in the living room and went out to a takeaway.
He added: ‘Laura phoned me and said something like “Logan was not breathing. You need to get home”.
‘I ran straight home. I have gone in. Logan is on the living room floor.
He is also accused of murdering his new partner, Evie Adams (pictured), 23, by giving her an overdose of Tramadol and diazepam on October 24 in 2019
‘Laura is on the phone to the paramedics. They were telling her how to do CPR but she couldn’t do it so I have taken over the CPR.
Monaghan again answered ‘definitely not’ when Mr Myers asked if he ‘had done anything to Logan to make this happen’.
Monaghan said he learned Logan had died about 45 minutes after he was taken to hospital.
He said: ‘It was a big shock. Logan was fine that day. I don’t understand how he had passed away.
‘I was holding everything in and not telling anyone what was going through my head but it destroyed me.’
Monaghan said he was prescribed anti-depressants following his children’s deaths.
He said: ‘I was depressed when it happened. I love my children.’
He is also accused of murdering his new partner, Evie Adams, 23, by giving her an overdose of Tramadol and diazepam on October 24 in 2019.
Monaghan denies this and told the jury: ‘I loved Evie Adams at the time she died.’
The trial continues on Monday.
