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. 7004Murder · Co. Westmeath · 9 Sep 2022

Mother jailed for life over murder of two children in car fire, Co Westmeath

Lynn Eager, a 49-year-old woman also spelled Eagar in some reports, set fire to a car at Lackan, Multyfarnham, Co Westmeath, on 9 September 2022, with her children Thelma Dennany (5) and Mikey Dennany (2) inside. Thelma died from her burns, and Mikey was pulled from the car but could not be saved. Eager was arrested on 21 September 2022 and charged with both murders, and she pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court. On 30 November 2023 she was given a life sentence on each murder count.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced30 Nov
    2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Lynn Eager, also spelled Eagar, a 49-year-old mother of four, pleaded guilty to murdering her two children, Thelma Dennany (5) and Mikey Dennany (2).
  • Thelma was badly burned and died, and Mikey was pulled from the car but could not be saved.
Where
The car fire happened at Lackan, Multyfarnham, Co Westmeath.
When
The incident happened on 9 September 2022.
Cause
Eager admitted setting fire to the car in which her children were sitting.
Weapon
Eager said she brought a can of petrol from her shed, placed it in the rear footwell and dropped a lit fire-lighter into it.
Investigation
Eager was arrested on 21 September 2022 and interviewed by gardaí, and admitted in interview that she had set the car alight.
Charges
Eager was charged with the murders of Thelma and Michael Dennany.
In court
Eager pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court when the two murder charges were put to her.
Sentence
Eager was given a life sentence on each of the two murder counts, reported on 30 November 2023.
Other details
  • Eager was in the passenger seat, was pulled to safety by a passer-by, and suffered what the court heard were minimal burns.
  • Eager had no previous convictions and had been in custody since 22 September 2022.
  • In a letter read to the court, Eager apologised to everyone she had hurt.
21 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatLynn Eager pleaded guilty to the murder of her two children. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatMikey was pulled from the car but could not be saved. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatA mother of four pleaded guilty to murdering two of her children by setting fire to the car in which they were travelling. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe car fire happened in Westmeath. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe murders happened at Lackan, Multyfarnham. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe incident happened at Lackan, Multyfarnham, on September 9, 2022. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe murders happened on September 9th 2022. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeEager set fire to the car in which her children were sitting. (irishmirror.ie)
  • causeEagar said she brought a can of petrol from her shed, placed it in the rear footwell and dropped a lit fire-lighter into it. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationEagar was arrested on September 21st and interviewed by gardaí. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationEagar admitted in interviews that she had set the car alight, causing the children's deaths. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeEager was charged with the murders of Thelma and Michael Dennany. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeEagar was charged with the murders of Thelma and Michael Dennany. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtEager pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtEagar pleaded guilty when the two charges were put to her. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceA life sentence was imposed for each of the two murders. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceEagar was given a life sentence on each count of murder. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherEager was in the passenger seat and was pulled to safety by a passer-by. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherEager apologised to everyone she had hurt in a letter read to the court. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherEagar had no previous convictions and had been in custody since September 22nd of the previous year. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherEagar received minimal burns to 12 per cent of her body. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 30 Nov2023
    Sentencedirishtimes.com, first report
    Mother sentenced to life for murder of her two ‘gorgeous children’ in car fire

    Reports the guilty plea, the life sentences imposed on each murder count, and the father's and family's statements. The article is the first report on this case in the list.

    victim, Thelma Dennany, 5, irish (judged from name)Thelma Dennanyvictim, Mikey Dennany, 2, irish (judged from name)Mikey Dennanyconvicted, Lynn Eagar, 49, female, named, irish (judged from name)Lynn Eagar
  2. 30 Nov2023
    Sentencedirishmirror.ie, follow-up
    Lynn Eager jailed for life for murdering her two children in horror car blaze

    Reports the guilty plea, the life sentences and statements read in court about a fire at Lackan, Multyfarnham, on 9 September 2022.

    convicted, Lynn Eager, 49, female, namedLynn Eagervictim, Thelma Dennany, 5, female, irish (judged from name)Thelma Dennanyvictim, Mikey Dennany, 2, male, irish (judged from name)Mikey Dennany