Deirdre Morley found not guilty by reason of insanity of murdering her children

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Deirdre Morley was found not guilty by reason of insanity of murdering her three children at the Central Criminal Court. The proceedings were reported on 20 May 2021.

Morley had pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to murdering her sons Conor McGinley, aged nine, and Darragh McGinley, aged seven, and her daughter Carla McGinley, aged three.

The children were killed at their family home, and psychiatrists agreed Morley was unable to appreciate that her actions were morally wrong or refrain from them. Defence psychiatrist Dr Brenda Wright said Morley believed it was morally right to smother the children because she thought she had irreparably damaged them and had to end their suffering.

Mr Justice Paul Coffey ordered Morley to be committed to the Central Mental Hospital on 20 May and listed the matter to return on 31 May.