Daughter of murder accused Gary Baird tells murder trial of mental health concerns

A Belfast man on trial for murdering his wife was described as a "very gentle, very kind" man by the couple's eldest child. The daughter of accused Gary Alexander Baird was called to give evidence at Belfast Crown Court where she spoke of concerns regarding her father's mental health prior to the fatal hammer attack. Baird (64) has already admitted attacking his 60-year old wife Susan with a hammer and has pleaded guilty to a charge of manslaughter but this plea has not been accepted by the prosecution.

Mrs Baird died from a catastrophic head injury in their Windermere Road home on the afternoon of August 16, 2020. During the fifth day of the hearing, the defence called the eldest of the couple's four children to the witness box. After swearing on the Bible to tell the truth, the 38-year-old nurse was asked a series of questions by defence barrister Stephen Toal. She was asked to tell the jury what her relationship was like with her mother Susan and she replied: "She was kind, she was caring, she was my best friend. She was a devoted Christian and her family was everything." When asked the same question about her father Gary, she said: "We talk regularly. We have many conversations and confided in each. He was always good at advice. Very gentle, very kind." Mr Toal then pointed out that Baird was a "man of good character with no criminal convictions." He asked the witness to describe her father's character in the family home, and she replied: "He went to work. He played with us as children. "He was the advisor, the one you went to for advice and support. "He was quiet, he was fun. He was always joyful, making Dad jokes." When asked to describe the family unit, she said they were "close, very close ... a normal family" but confirmed her parents went through a difficult period. She was then asked about her mother sending a solicitor's letter to her father in January 2017 and whilst she confirmed this did happen, she said her parents went to counselling and reconciled. Mr Toal questioned the witness about events in 2020 and "that fateful month of August 2020" and she confirmed her parents went on a cruise in January of that year. She was also shown a picture of her parents in Portrush with the caption 'Holidays excited' and - with her voice breaking with emotion - said this image was sent by her mother from a trip the couple took together in July 2020. Mr Toal then raised the issue of domestic violence within the family home and when she was asked if any incidents had ever occurred, she said "no." The barrister asked "was there even shouting in with your family home? Would your father have shouted at you or your brother or sisters" to which she again said "no." She was also asked about her father's mental health and the nurse said became aware there were issues around 2013 which became acute in mid July 2020. The jury has already been shown CCTV footage of Baird walking onto a road and being hit by a bin lorry on Belfast's Bedford Street ten days before the hammer attack. As a result, Baird was hospitalised and required treatment for serious wounds to his left hand. His daughter was asked about this incident and she said that whilst her father was in hospital she "expressed concerns" about his mental health to medics. Mr Toal then asked the woman what the relationship between her mother and father was like after this incident. She replied: "Concern. "My Mum was very concerned for my Dad. We were all trying to get him help. Dad was also concerned about us looking after Mum while he was in hospital." When asked if her father, when depressed, was a "burden" to her mother, she said: "Yes". She also confirmed her father "acknowledged" he was a burden to his wife whilst depressed. The final line of questioning regarded contact she and her siblings have had with their father following their mother's death. The couple's eldest child told the court: "We see him in person a few times a month and we talk, as a foursome, every day. I talk to him once or twice a week." At hearing.

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