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Deirdre Morley believed actions were 'morally right', psychiatrist tells trial

Summary

In the Central Criminal Court, Dr Brenda Wright testified that 44‑year‑old Deirdre Morley, a renal‑specialist nurse, was suffering from bipolar affective disorder and believed it was morally right to smother her three children, whom she claimed had been irreparably damaged. She had attempted to drug them with morphine and codeine the night before the killings, but the children resisted. The next day she used tape, plastic bags and cushions to suffocate them, two of whom died in a play tent. Dr Wright said Morley did not know her actions were wrong due to her psychotic state and was unable to refrain from them, meeting the criteria for a special verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity. The trial continues with the jury hearing evidence of her mental state on 24 January and her belief that ending their suffering was necessary.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Deirdre Morley believed actions were 'morally right', psychiatrist tells trial. Charges or matters: murdering her three children at their family home over a year ago. Procedural stage: finding. Findings: Not guilty by reason of insanity

When:

• January 24 Incident
• July 2019 Incident
• 1998 and 2017 Other
• 2021-05-19 Publication

Why: To meet the verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity, the jury must find that Ms Morley was suffering from a mental disorder such that she should not be held responsible for the killings because she did not know the nature and quality of her actions, or she did not know what she was doing was morally wrong, or was unable to refrain from committing the act. CNI source report

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Drugs Stage Finding

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Read the original CNI report