Jury deliberating in trial of mother accused of murdering her three children
Advisory: This report contains evidence which may be distressing
Reporter: );
);
The jurors in the trial of a woman accused of the murder of her three children will continue their deliberations on Thursday.
Deirdre Morley of Parson s Court, Newcastle, Co Dublin, has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the murder of her sons Conor McGinley (9) and Darragh McGinley (7) and her daughter Carla McGinley (3). The children s bodies were discovered at the family home just before 8pm on January 24 last year.
Jurors had begun deliberations this afternoon (Wednesday), but did not reach a verdict.
Deirdre Morley trial hears of mental state deteriorating before murders ‘No contest as to what the verdict should be’ in ‘sad and tragic case’, judge tells jury
about 5 hours ago
Four days after she took the lives of her three children by suffocating them, Deirdre Morley told doctors at Tallaght University Hospital that she “wished she had a time machine”.
Ms Morley has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity of the murders of Conor (9), Darragh (7) and Carla McGinley (3), who were found dead on January 24th, 2020.
The jury in the case retired to consider a verdict at 3.35pm on Wednesday, after a day of evidence mostly focused on Ms Morley’s deteriorating mental status in the years and months leading up to the killings.
Deirdre Morley believed it was morally right to smother her three children, psychiatrist tells murder trial
An expert witness told the Central Criminal Court that the accused was suffering with bipolar affective disorder at the time and fulfils the criteria for a special verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity
Conor (9), Darragh (7) and little sister Carla McGinley (3) pictured with parents Deirdre (far left) and Andrew (Image: McGinley family)
Get the latest news from across Ireland straight to your inbox every single dayInvalid EmailSomething went wrong, please try again later.
Sign up!
When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Your information will be used in accordance with ourPrivacy Notice.