A man appeared in court today charged with the brutal murder of his partner’s 15-month-old baby.

Little Millie Martin died on Friday from horrific injuries sustained in a savage attack at her home in the Glebe Park area of Enniskillen.

Police confirmed last night that a 30-year-old being questioned about the toddler’s death has been charged with her murder.

The man, named locally as Barry McCarney, from the Irvinestown area, and understood to be the partner of the child’s mother, appeared before Omagh Magistrates Court this morning.

Yesterday, the end-of-terrace house in a cul-de-sac in the Chanterhill area of the town remained sealed off as detectives continued to piece together the final hours of the toddler’s short life.

At the scene, floral tributes and cuddly toys continued to gather. One poignant message read: “You were a wee star on earth, now you’re the brightest star in heaven”.

Last night, it emerged that social services had been in touch with Millie’s mother within the last year. A social worker called at the house. However, contact did not continue.

It is understood that Millie’s body has been released and is now at her grandparents’ home.

Her funeral will take place later this week.

The family have asked for privacy while they grieve and requested that donations in lieu of flowers go to the Royal Victoria Hospital for Sick Children.

Senior staff at the Western Health and Social Care Trust were due to meet to review the case and ensure their contacts with the family were appropriate.

Sources told this newspaper that Millie was not on the child protection register.

The trust refused to say if those social workers included members of the Gateway team — normally the first point of contact in child safety alerts.

In a statement the Martin family said they were “deeply heartbroken by the death of our beautiful little Millie”.

It read: “No words can describe the distress that we are going through right now. Millie lit up our lives and brought us endless joy.”