Babysitter of Ronan Davies says little boy’s death was an accident

The babysitter at the centre of a murder investigation over the death of 17-month-old Ronan Davies has outlined what he claims happened before the toddler lost consciousness.

• ‘Perfect in every way’: Ro’s parents in emotional tribute to their son

The babysitter considered a person of interest in the suspected murder of toddler Ronan Davies has denied hurting the “idolised” boy as his parents paid an emotional tribute to their “perfect” son.

Major Crime detectives believe the 17-month old boy, known as “Ro”, was assaulted as the family friends cared for him over two days at their Glenelg North flat, this month.

When his father discovered him unconscious, paramedics rushed him to the Women’s and Children’s Hospital just after 5.30pm on Wednesday, June 7. He died two days later from critical injuries despite desperate efforts to save him.

Detectives say he had numerous “significant” internal and head injuries.

The babysitter, chef Quentin Corrigan, claimed the boy accidentally fell from his pram.

The heavily tattooed man, who has “loyalty” inked on his left cheek, has denied to investigators he hurt the boy he “idolised like my own”.

BREAKING: 7NEWS can reveal exclusive details about the suspected murder of Ottoway toddler Ronan Davies. The man who was babysitting the 17-month-old when he sustained critical head injuries has told 7NEWS it was an accident. His interview only in 7NEWS Adelaide at 6pm. #7NEWSpic.twitter.com/yN4RYMv861

— 7NEWS Adelaide (@7NewsAdelaide) June 28, 2023

Senior police, who currently consider the boy’s parents witnesses and not suspects, on Wednesday reiterated their public appeal for witnesses or vision to help reconstruct the boy’s final 36 hours.

The babysitter, who is believed to be considered a person of interest along with at least one other female, has not been arrested and no charges have been laid.

Speaking outside his second floor western suburbs apartment as he went to work early on Wednesday, Mr Corrigan, originally from NSW, insisted the boy, who he “idolised”, slipped from the pram after he turned away for a split second but was “fine after that”.

He said the boy was awake and breathing during an almost 20km Uber ride to the parents’ home 30 minutes away. The boy was conscious as he and another man walked the boy in his pram to a nearby BP service station just after 3pm that Wednesday.

Ronan Davies was in the care of family friends before he died.

His family has revealed Ronan’s organs were donated to three other children with severe health issues.

He was, however, “unsure” how the boy suffered catastrophic internal injuries or could explain why he slipped in his care, which was a favour to the parents who recently moved from interstate and have no family in Adelaide.

He “feel asleep” either in the “tail end” of the Uber ride or when they arrived.

“When I left to take him to (his dad’s) place he slipped out of the pram, he made a noise and I picked him up and comforted him,” he told 7News.

Told police didn’t believe his version of events, he replied: “Well, that’s the truth.”

Asked if he was sure, he added: “Yep, positive. 100 per cent positive. I pretty much idolised him... like he was my own.”

His comments came as Ronan’s distraught parents, who detectives say are co-operating with their investigation, paid an emotional tribute to their toddler son who they said was “perfect in every way”.

Posting on social media the week before the incident, Mr Corrigan asked the boy’s father “Oi numb nut ring me or msg what’s wrong with you.”

The man who was babysitting Ottoway toddler Ronan Davies, when the 17-month-old when he sustained critical head injuries, has told 7NEWS Adelaide it was an accident. Picture: 7NEWS

A female friend, who is prolific on social media and is believed to also be a focus of police investigations, refused to comment.

Neighbours have also told of their shock and devastation for the family before detectives escorted the pair from their home on Wednesday.

Earlier, Major Crime acting officer in charge, Detective Inspector Mark McEachern appealed for witnesses, or dashcam and CCTV vision.

He said complex inquiries focused on two days the boy stayed at Ferguson St, Glenelg North, and involved “persons” of interest but he declined to confirm identities. He said none were known to child protection authorities.

The parents of little Ronan, Glenn Davies and Melanie Nguyen.

He said police were immediately notified after the boy’s emergency hospital admission when clinicians raised concerns at a head injury “and a lot of internal injuries”. He would not give further details.

“Our suspicion is it’s an assault of some description but we don’t know definitely what or how,” he said.

“Our suspicion is it’s not accidental, they are common with assault. It’s the significance of the injuries and the number of injuries.”

Asked why detectives were unsatisfied he said: “We’re not going into detail... other than the version we’ve been provided we’re not satisfied with it. We don’t believe it.

“Our inquiries with the parents are ongoing but we’re focusing on events at Glenelg North. I think it would be fair to say we consider at this point in time they’re (the parents) witnesses to the matter.”

Anyone with information should contact Crimestoppers. on 1800 333 000.

Originally published as Babysitter of Ronan Davies says little boy’s death was an accident