Courts / Kerry / Report
Joanne Hayes seeks to void findings of Kerry Babies tribunal
Summary
Joanne Hayes, who was wrongly accused of murdering an infant in 1984, seeks a High Court declaration that all findings of wrongdoing against her and her siblings by the Kerry Babies Tribunal were unfounded and incorrect. The family was arrested after a newborn with stab wounds was found in Cahersiveen. Hayes was accused of being the mother of the child, baby John, and of murdering him, but a blood test later proved she was not the mother. The charges were dropped in October 1984. Hayes claims the Gardaí forced her and her family into false confessions, which they later withdrew. The Tribunal, led by Justice Kevin Lynch, made numerous unsubstantiated findings, including allegations of assault and lying, and was alleged to have shown bias by allowing inappropriate statements about Hayes' character and private health. Hayes and her siblings now seek declarations that the investigation, arrest, charge and Tribunal findings breached her constitutional rights.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Joanne Hayes seeks to void findings of Kerry Babies tribunal. Procedural stage: charge_or_pretrial
When:
- May 1984 Incident
- October 1984 Incident
- April 13, 1984 Incident
- 2020-12-09 Publication
Case subjects
Applicant
Places mentioned
Topics
Stage Charge Or Pretrial Violent Crime
Related court reports
If a fact, identity, locality or legal outcome needs review, email the newsroom with this report's details prefilled.
Email a correction request