Ireland Inquest jury finds Limerick schoolboy died by unlawful killing
Brooklyn Colbert, an 11-year-old boy, was stabbed 27 times and struck with a hammer by his 26-year-old half-uncle Patrick Dillon at a house on Shanabooly Road, Ballynanty, Limerick, in November 2019. Sources differ on the exact date, with some reporting 3 November and others 8 November. Dillon walked to a Garda station and confessed, then pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court and was sentenced to a mandatory life term in February 2021. On 19 April 2023, a jury at Limerick Coroner's Court found the boy died by unlawful killing.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court22 Feb
2 reports - Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced19 Apr
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Brooklyn Colbert, 11, was stabbed 27 times and struck with a hammer by his half-uncle Patrick Dillon, 26.
- Where
- The killing took place at a house on Shanabooly Road, Ballynanty, Limerick, which was Dillon's aunt's home.
- When
- Sources disagree on the date, with some reporting 3 November 2019 and others 8 November 2019.
- Cause
- The post-mortem found the boy died from blood loss and shock due to multiple stab wounds.
- Weapon
- The attacker used a hammer to strike the boy's head and a single cutting edge knife with a 13cm blade to stab him 27 times.
- Investigation
- After the killing, Dillon walked to a Garda station and confessed.
- Charges
- Dillon pleaded guilty to the murder at the Central Criminal Court in 2021.
- Sentence
- Dillon was sentenced to a mandatory life term in February 2021.
- In court
- A jury at Limerick Coroner's Court found on 19 April 2023 that the boy died by unlawful killing.
- Other details
- The post-mortem found the boy had tried to defend himself during the attack.
- The parents, Sonia Aylmer and Wayne Colbert, raised funds for the Limerick homeless charity Novas and the Children's Health Foundation.
36 statements extracted from the articles
- whatBrooklyn Colbert was 11 years old at the time of his death. (limerickpost.ie)
- whatBrooklyn was stabbed and beaten to death. (limerickpost.ie)
- whatThe killer was Brooklyn's then 26-year-old half-uncle Patrick Dillon. (limerickpost.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- whatBrooklyn, aged 11, was stabbed and beaten to death. (irishmirror.ie)
- 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)
- wherePatrick Dillon is from Dalgaish Park, Moyross. (limerickpost.ie)
- whereThe murder took place at a house on Shanabooly Road, Ballynanty. (limerickpost.ie)
- wherePatrick Dillon lived at Dalgaish Park, Moyross. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe killing took place at a house on Shanabooly Road, Ballynanty. (irishmirror.ie)
- 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 murder occurred on November 8, 2019. (limerickpost.ie)
- whenThe killing occurred on 8 November 2019. (irishmirror.ie)
- 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)
- courtThe inquest into Brooklyn Colbert's death has been scheduled for April 19 at Kilmallock courthouse. (limerickpost.ie)
- courtDillon pleaded guilty to the murder. (limerickpost.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe inquest is scheduled for 19 April at Kilmallock courthouse. (irishmirror.ie)
- 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)
- sentencePatrick Dillon was given a life sentence in February 2021. (limerickpost.ie)
- sentenceDillon was given a life sentence in February 2021. (irishmirror.ie)
- 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 parents raised funds for the Limerick homeless charity Novas. (limerickpost.ie)
- 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 - 24 Feb2023Inquest of murdered Limerick schoolboy Brooklyn Colbert set for April
Announces the inquest date (19 April) and venue (Kilmallock courthouse), provides the parents' names (Sonia Aylmer and Wayne Colbert), notes their fundraising for Novas and the Children's Health Foundation, and details Aylmer's campaign to change section 252 of the Children's Act 2001 and the lifting of the naming restriction in May 2021.
victim, Brooklyn Colbert, 11, male, irish (judged from name)Brooklyn Colbertconvicted, Patrick Dillon, 26, male, named, irish (judged from name)Patrick Dillon - 22 Feb2023Date set for inquest into death of murdered Limerick schoolboy
Announces the inquest date (April 19, Kilmallock Courthouse), confirms the murder details (stabbed and beaten by half-uncle Patrick Dillon, 26, of Dalgaish Park, Moyross, at a house on Shanabooly Road, Ballynanty), notes the life sentence handed down in February 2021, and describes the parents' subsequent fundraising for Novas and the Children's Health Foundation, and Sonia Aylmer's campaign for changes to section 252 of the Children's Act 2001.
victim, Brooklyn Colbert, 11, male, irish (judged from name)Brooklyn Colbertconvicted, Patrick Dillon, 26, male, named, irish (judged from name)Patrick Dillon