Unnamed mother acquitted of murder by reason of insanity

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

The unnamed woman was found not guilty of murdering her daughter by reason of insanity at the Central Criminal Court on 23 October 2019.

The jury heard that she smothered the three-year-old with a pillow at their family home, and that the child later died from cerebral hypoxia caused by suffocation.

Two forensic psychiatrists gave evidence about depression and psychotic features, while the court heard she had held a fixed and false belief about her daughter’s autism.

Ms Justice Carmel Stewart ordered that the woman be committed to the Central Mental Hospital, with the matter listed again for 5 November.