Stephen Harnett pleads guilty to four attempted murders

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

Stephen Harnett, 37, from Blainroe in Co Wicklow, pleaded guilty to attempting to murder four young children. The offences took place in Wicklow on 3 June 2016. The proceedings were reported on 16 July 2018.

The court heard that Harnett attempted to strangle two of the children and left them when he thought they were dead. He then moved on to the two older children, who fought back and escaped through a window. One child was unconscious when paramedics arrived.

Defence counsel Patrick Gageby asked Mr Justice Michael White to continue Harnett's bail. He said he needed to obtain a report on Harnett's psychiatric condition and that this would be more difficult while Harnett was in custody.

Gageby said Harnett was already abiding by stringent bail conditions, including conditions relating to psychiatric care, and was willing to accept further conditions.

After hearing evidence from investigating garda Detective Sergeant Fergal O'Brien, Mr Justice White remanded Harnett in custody. The judge said he was strongly of the view that Harnett should be in custody while awaiting sentencing, which was scheduled for 8 October.