Courts / Kildare / Report

Treatment of husband who killed infant son "beyond cruel", wife tells trial

Summary

In a 2019 retrial, Amanda Bailey, wife of Yusif Ali Abdi, testified that her husband's treatment has been "beyond cruel." She recounted their meeting in 1998, pregnancy in 1999, and marriage to secure his legal status. Bailey described Abdi as a quiet, caring partner who later displayed signs of paranoia and depression after a 2001 arrest and a visit to Africa. She detailed an argument over their son Nathan, during which Abdi threw a phone that cut her lip, and her subsequent refusal to return home until he sought psychiatric help. On the night of Nathan's murder, Bailey heard noises, saw Abdi praying, and found the child pale, blood‑stained, and lifeless. She noted Abdi's denial of mental illness and his accusations of her poisoning him. The prosecution highlighted that Abdi was convicted in 2003, but a 2019 appeal led to a retrial based on newly discovered evidence of early signs of paranoid schizophrenia. Yusif Ali Abdi pleaded not guilty.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Treatment of husband who killed infant son "beyond cruel", wife tells trial. Charges or matters: murdering 20-month-old Nathan Baraka Andrew Ali at The Elms, College Road, Clane, Co Kildare on April 17, 2001; murdering his son by a 10-2 majority verdict in May 2003. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Convicted

When:

• April 17, 2001 Hearing Or Sentence
• May 1998 Other
• January 1999 Other
• August 30, 1999 Incident
• January 2001 Other
• May 2003 Hearing Or Sentence
• February 2019 Incident
• 2019-12-10 Publication

Why: Ms Bailey said she realised in January 1999 that she was pregnant and they got married in May of that year in order to give Mr Abdi legal status in Ireland so he would not be deported. CNI source report

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Appeal Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report