Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
MUM CHARGED WITH KIDS MURDER
Deirdre, 43, in court accused of killing little Conor, Darragh and Carla
THE mum of three children found dead in their home has been charged with their murders.
The bodies of Conor, nine, Darragh, seven, and three-year-old Carla Mcginley were discovered last Friday.
Deirdre Morley, 43, appeared before Dublin District Court yesterday.
Detective Sergeant Dara Kenny said: “She made no reply in response to each
of the charges and was handed a copy of the charges.”
Morley was remanded in custody for one week, with an order that she would receive a psychiatric assessment while in prison.
The accused, of Parsons Court, Newcastle, Co Dublin, was found by a taxi driver near her house shortly before the children’s bodies were discovered.
She was treated for days at Tallaght University Hospital.
The children’s father Andrew Mcginley arrived home at the same time Irish police and paramedics reached the house and when they went inside they found the three children dead.
Morley, a nurse at Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin, was arrested on Tuesday and detained at Clondalkin Garda station under section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984.
She appeared before Judge Paula Murphy at Dublin District Court yesterday.
Morley had been charged with the murder of the three children at their family home at Parsons Court.
Dressed in a green cardigan, blue jeans, navy top and black shoes, she sat silently alone on the defendant’s bench, with her hands on her lap during the brief hearing.
Det Sgt Kenny told the court the accused was arrested at 2.06pm yesterday at Clondalkin station and charged at 2.49pm with the three offences.
He applied for a remand in custody. The district court cannot grant bail in a murder case and Judge Murphy remanded the accused in custody to appear again next Wednesday at 10.30am.
She will be held at the Dochas Centre, the women’s unit in Mountjoy Prison.
Defence solicitor Jonathan Dunphy asked for “necessary medical treatment to be afforded to Ms Morley in custody”.
He asked that specifically she would receive continuing psychiatric assessment and assistance.
The judge agreed to make the order.
She also acceded to a request to direct disclosure to the defence of copies of video interviews.
It was unusual to make that request at this stage, he said, however, he explained it would be
required in terms of her psychiatric assessment.
Judge Murphy also granted legal aid after noting from Mr Dunphy that Morley was not working and she was in receipt of no income. There was no Garda objection.
The hearing lasted just three minutes.
Earlier this week, Andrew Mcginley released a statement via the Garda saying the children had “beautiful, bright futures” ahead of them and that since their deaths “every breath is a struggle”.
He added: “There are no words. There is only devastation, grief and anguish.
“Every breath is a struggle,.
“Conor, Darragh and Carla are adored. They all had beautiful, bright futures ahead of them with family, friends and a community who love them.
“To all parents, cuddle your children whenever you get a chance, tell them how much you love them as often as you can, spend every spare minute with them reading, playing and enjoying their wonderfulness.”
There are no words. There is only grief. Every breath is a struggle
ANDREW MCGINLEY EARLIER THIS WEEK