Deirdre Morley trial jury retires to consider verdict

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

The jury in Deirdre Morley’s murder trial retired to consider its verdict at 3.35pm on 19 May 2021. The proceedings were reported on 19 May 2021.

Morley pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the murders of her three children, Conor McGinley, 9, Darragh McGinley, 7, and Carla McGinley, 3. The children were found dead on 24 January 2020.

In his charge to the jury, Mr Justice Paul Coffey said there was “no contest as to what the verdict should be” and that the prosecution and defence agreed the defence of insanity applied.

The jury heard evidence from forensic psychiatrists Dr Brenda Wright and Dr Mary Davoren. Dr Wright diagnosed Morley with bipolar affective disorder type II; Dr Davoren said that, at a minimum, she had a recurring depressive disorder. Both agreed that Morley met the criteria for a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity, did not know what she was doing was wrong and was unable to refrain from the act.

The court heard that Morley had suffocated the children. Dr Wright said Morley told her she thought the children would be irreparably damaged by their mother’s suicide and believed taking them with her was the right thing to do.

The jury was due to resume deliberations on Thursday, 20 May 2021.