Ireland Case No. 4484Murder · Co. Dublin
Legal challenge to coroner's limits on medical evidence in inquests into deaths of three children in Newcastle, Co Dublin
Deirdre Morley, who was found not guilty by reason of insanity of murdering her three children, is seeking judicial review of a Dublin coroner's decision to limit medical evidence at the inquests. The High Court granted an earlier hearing date and adjourned the matter to December 8th.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court25 Nov
2 reports - Verdict
- Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports26 statements extracted from the articles
- whatDeirdre Morley killed her three children. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe three children were killed at the family home in Newcastle, Co Dublin. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe killings took place at the family home in Newcastle, Co Dublin. (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
- whenThe children were killed on 24 January 2020. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe children died in January 2020. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe children were killed in January 2020. (irishtimes.com)
- causePostmortems found all three children died from suffocation. (irishtimes.com)
- causeA post-mortem found the three children died by suffocation. (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
- courtDeirdre Morley was found not guilty by reason of insanity in 2021 of murdering her three children. (irishtimes.com)
- courtMs Morley is seeking permission for a judicial review of the Dublin coroner's decision not to call evidence from treating medical professionals. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe coroner ruled that evidence on Ms Morley's mental health would come from two forensic consultant psychiatrists who gave evidence at her 2021 trial. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe inquest is to be held on a date to be announced. (irishtimes.com)
- courtMorley was found not guilty by reason of insanity in 2021 after a trial at the Central Criminal Court. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtMorley is seeking judicial review of the coroner's decision of 7 October. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtMorley's lawyers argue the inquest would be insufficient and inadequate without evidence from those who treated her in the six months before the deaths. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe judge granted an earlier hearing date and adjourned the matter to 8 December. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtMs Morley was found not guilty by reason of insanity of murder after a trial at the Central Criminal Court in 2021. (irishtimes.com)
- courtMs Morley is seeking judicial review of coroner Dr Myra Cullinane's October 7th decision. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe coroner decided not to allow medical professionals who treated Ms Morley before the killings to give evidence about her mental state. (irishtimes.com)
- courtMs Morley's lawyers applied for the High Court ex parte application to be heard earlier than January 19th next year. (irishtimes.com)
- courtMs Justice Mary Rose Gearty granted the earlier date and adjourned the matter to December 8th. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceMs Morley had been committed to the Central Mental Hospital after the verdict. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe children's father, Andrew McGinley, is not a party to the case but supports it. (irishtimes.com)
- otherDublin District Coroner Dr Myra Cullinane decided not to allow medical professionals who treated Morley before the killings to give evidence about her mental state. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe coroner intends to rely on expert testimony from two consultant psychiatrists. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherMorley told gardaí that at the time she was overwhelmed and her thoughts had been getting darker. (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 27 Nov2025Legal challenge to coroner by Deirdre Morley, who killed her three children, to be heard early
Reports that Ms Morley is seeking judicial review of coroner Dr Myra Cullinane's October 7th decision to limit medical evidence at the inquests, and that the High Court heard the ex parte application earlier than planned.
accused, Deirdre Morley, female, named, irish (judged from name)Deirdre Morleyvictim, Conor, 9, irish (judged from name)Conorvictim, Darragh, 7, irish (judged from name)Darraghvictim, Carla McGinley, 3, irish (judged from name)Carla McGinley - 27 Nov2025Mum who killed her three children to bring action to challenge coroner decision
Adds that Morley is seeking judicial review of Dublin District Coroner Dr Myra Cullinane's 7 October decision, that the High Court granted an earlier hearing date, and that the matter was adjourned to 8 December.
accused, Deirdre Morley, female, named, irish (judged from name)Deirdre Morleyvictim, Conor, 9, irish (judged from name)Conorvictim, Darragh, 7, irish (judged from name)Darraghvictim, Carla McGinley, 3, irish (judged from name)Carla McGinley - 25 Nov2025Deirdre Morley, mother who killed her three children, challenges coroner over scope of inquest
Reports that Ms Morley filed proceedings seeking judicial review of the Dublin coroner's decision on the scope of medical evidence at the children's inquests, and gives the father's support for the challenge.
accused, Deirdre Morley, female, named, irish (judged from name)Deirdre Morleyvictim, Conor, 9, irish (judged from name)Conorvictim, Darragh, 7, irish (judged from name)Darraghvictim, Carla, 3, irish (judged from name)Carla