Wednesday 28 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 2508Murder (not guilty by reason of insanity) · Co. Dublin · 24 Jan 2020

Deirdre Morley granted unaccompanied leave from Central Mental Hospital

Deirdre Morley, who was found not guilty of murdering her three children by reason of insanity in January 2020, has been granted Level 3 (unaccompanied) leave from the Central Mental Hospital. The children's father Andrew McGinley marked the fifth anniversary of their deaths and commented on the development and the outstanding inquest.

  1. Reported
  2. Arrested
  3. Charged
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
12 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatDeirdre Morley was found not guilty of murdering her three children by reason of insanity (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
  • whatMorley has been committed to the Central Mental Hospital since the incident (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatAndrew McGinley confirmed he was officially informed of the leave (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatBaby Henry Coleman was killed by his mother Nicola Keane in October 2020, who then took her own life (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatUna Butler's husband John killed their young girls Ella (6) and Zoe (2) on 16 November 2010 (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatAndrew's charity has given out over €300,000 in funds to date (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatShe killed Conor (9), Darragh (7) and Carla (3) on 24 January 2020 (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatAndrew McGinley was officially informed of her receiving leave (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatAndrew McGinley has paid out over €300,000 from his fundraising charities (dublinlive.ie)
  • whereShe has been committed to the Central Mental Hospital since the incident (dublinlive.ie)
  • whenThe children were killed on 24 January 2020 (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationAn inquest into the children's deaths has not yet been heard (dublinlive.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 22 Jan2025
    Otherdublinlive.ie, follow-up
    Mum who killed 3 kids granted unaccompanied days out of hospital

    Reports that Deirdre Morley has been approved for unaccompanied (Level 3) leave from Central Mental Hospital, and includes exclusive comments from the children's father Andrew McGinley on the fifth anniversary of their deaths, the lack of an inquest, and his fundraising work.

    convicted, Deirdre Morley, female, named, irish (judged from name)Deirdre Morleyvictim, Andrew McGinley, male, irish (judged from name)Andrew McGinleyvictim, Conor, 9, male, irish (judged from name)Conorvictim, Darragh, 7, male, irish (judged from name)Darraghvictim, Carla, 3, female, irish (judged from name)Carla
  2. 22 Jan2025
    Otheririshmirror.ie, follow-up
    Killer of Conor, Darragh and Carla McGinley granted days out of mental hospital

    Exclusive interview with Andrew McGinley marking the 5th anniversary; he confirms he was officially informed of the leave, criticises the HSE review as insufficient, references other child deaths (Henry Coleman, Una Butler), and discusses his charity work including over €300,000 distributed and an upcoming 30km walk event on April 12.

    victim, Conor, 9, male, irish (judged from name)Conorvictim, Darragh, 7, male, irish (judged from name)Darraghvictim, Carla, 3, female, irish (judged from name)Carlavictim, Andrew McGinley, male, irish (judged from name)Andrew McGinleysuspect, Deirdre Morley, female, named, irish (judged from name)Deirdre Morley