An Irish nanny in Boston has been charged with injuring a baby girl in her care who later died.

Aisling McCarthy Brady, 34, from Co Cavan, has been living in the US since 2002.

She is charged with assaulting the one-year-old child on or about 14 January.

The baby died two days later. The prosecution says the infant died of head trauma consistent with severe shaking.

The baby, Rehma Sabir, died two days later in hospital.

Ms McCarthy Brady entered a plea of not guilty to the charges yesterday and has denied any involvement in the death.

Bail was set at $500,000 (€375,000) cash or $5m surety. No bail has been posted and she remains in custody.

She is due back in court on 22 February.

Prosecutors said they anticipate she will face a murder charge, once a post mortem on the baby's body is completed.

The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency said Ms McCarthy Brady overstayed her 90-day authorisation to stay in the US after entering in 2002 and never left.

A spokesman for the US Immigration Service told RTÉ News that Ms McCarthy Brady will be deported regardless of the outcome of the case.

Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone said: "This is an extremely troubling case, where we allege the defendant violently assaulted a one-year-old child, causing a devastating head injury and broken bones.

"Children are our most vulnerable victims and where, as here, the offender has been entrusted with the care of a child who depends on them, the allegations are all the more egregious."

Police said they were called to a house in Ash Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts, shortly before 5pm on 14 January where they found Rehma unconscious.

She was taken to Boston Children's Hospital where she was treated for bleeding to her brain and eyes.

Rehma was also found to have multiple healing bone fractures.

The Boston Herald has reported that Rehma's father is from London and her mother is from Karachi, Pakistan.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Eamon Gilmore said consular services are available for the family.

"We normally provide assistance if somebody finds themselves in this situation," he said.

"Any Irish citizen who gets in difficulty like this the consular services of my department are available to them. The consular services are available in this case."