Ireland Case No. 21437Murder · Co. Limerick · 3 Nov 2019
Inquest finds Limerick schoolboy Brooklyn Colbert was unlawfully killed by his uncle
Brooklyn Colbert, an 11-year-old boy from Caherdavin, Limerick, died after being struck with a hammer and stabbed by his uncle, Paddy Dillon, a 26-year-old man from Moyross, Limerick, at Dillon's aunt's home in Ballynanty Beg on 3 November 2019. After the killing, Dillon walked to a Garda station and confessed. In 2021 he pleaded guilty before the Central Criminal Court and was sentenced to mandatory life imprisonment. On 19 April 2023 a jury at Limerick Coroner's Court found that Brooklyn died by unlawful killing.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced19 Apr
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Brooklyn Colbert, an 11-year-old boy, died after being struck with a hammer and stabbed by his uncle, Paddy Dillon.
- Where
- The attack took place at Dillon's aunt's home at Ballynanty Beg, Limerick.
- When
- The attack took place on 3 November 2019.
- Cause
- The post-mortem by State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster found that Brooklyn died from blood loss, haemorrhage and shock due to multiple stab wounds, and that his death was very rapid.
- Weapon
- The uncle struck Brooklyn across the head with a hammer, causing a depressed skull fracture.
- Brooklyn was stabbed 27 times with a single cutting edge knife with a 13cm blade; one report says he was stabbed over 20 times.
- Other details
- The post-mortem found that Brooklyn had tried to defend himself during the attack.
- Brooklyn had an address at Aherlow Close, Caherdavin, and Dillon, who was 26 at the time, is from Moyross, Limerick.
- Investigation
- After the killing, Dillon walked to a Garda station and confessed to the murder.
- In court
- Dillon pleaded guilty before the Central Criminal Court in 2021.
- On 19 April 2023 a jury at Limerick Coroner's Court found that Brooklyn died by unlawful killing.
- Sentence
- Dillon was sentenced to mandatory life imprisonment for the murder.
20 statements extracted from the articles
- whatBrooklyn Colbert, 11, was killed. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatAn 11-year-old boy died after being beaten with a hammer and stabbed over 20 times by his uncle. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe attack happened at the aunt's home in Ballynanty Beg, Limerick. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe attack happened at Dillon's aunt's home at Ballynanty Beg, Limerick. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe killing took place on 3 November 2019. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe attack happened on 3 November 2019. (irishtimes.com)
- causeThe post-mortem found the boy died from blood loss and shock due to multiple stab wounds. (irishmirror.ie)
- causeA jury at Limerick Coroner's Court found that the boy died by unlawful killing. (irishtimes.com)
- weaponThe attacker struck the boy with a hammer. (irishmirror.ie)
- weaponThe boy was stabbed 27 times with a single cutting edge knife with a 13cm blade. (irishmirror.ie)
- weaponThe uncle struck the boy across the head with a hammer. (irishtimes.com)
- weaponThe uncle stabbed the boy 27 times with a single cutting edge knife. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationAfter the killing, the uncle walked to a garda station and confessed. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationAfter the killing, the uncle walked to a Garda station and immediately confessed to the murder. (irishtimes.com)
- courtA Limerick Coroner's Court jury found the boy died by unlawful killing. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtDillon pleaded guilty before the Central Criminal Court in 2021. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe uncle pleaded guilty in 2021 and was sentenced to mandatory life imprisonment. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceDillon was sentenced to the mandatory sentence of life in jail for the murder. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe post-mortem found the boy had tried to defend himself during the attack. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe State Pathologist found the death was due to haemorrhage, bleeding and shock from multiple stab wounds. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 19 Apr2023Limerick boy (11) died after being beaten with hammer and stabbed by his uncle
Reports the inquest verdict of unlawful killing and summarises the autopsy findings, and notes Dillon's earlier guilty plea, conviction and life sentence.
victim, Brooklyn Colbert, 11, male, irish (judged from name)Brooklyn Colbertconvicted, Paddy Dillon, 26, male, named, irish (judged from name)Paddy Dillon - 19 Apr2023Inquest hears boy hit with hammer and stabbed 27 times tried to defend himself
Reports a coroner's inquest jury finding of unlawful killing, the post-mortem findings, and the uncle's earlier guilty plea and life sentence.
victim, Brooklyn Colbert, 11, male, irish (judged from name)Brooklyn Colbertconvicted, Paddy Dillon, 26, male, named, irish (judged from name)Paddy Dillon