Thursday 29 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. 11545Murder

Mother of murdered four-year-old boy describes loss ahead of sentencing

A woman who changed her plea to guilty to the murder of a four-year-old boy, her partner's son, is awaiting sentence at the Central Criminal Court. The boy's mother gave victim impact evidence, and the judge is to impose a mandatory life sentence on Wednesday.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court12 Jan
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
12 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA four-year-old boy was murdered by his father's girlfriend. (rte.ie)
  • whatThe boy was covered in bruises from head to toe, inflicted at different times. (rte.ie)
  • whatThe boy suffered a broken rib, a torn liver and a catastrophic brain injury. (rte.ie)
  • whatThe boy's life support was turned off three days after he was brought to hospital. (rte.ie)
  • whenThe boy was taken to hospital in March 2021. (rte.ie)
  • causeThe boy's father said he had fallen from a bunk bed. (rte.ie)
  • causeThe woman told gardaí she had snapped and started shaking the child. (rte.ie)
  • investigationCCTV footage from the morning the child was injured showed the woman going up and down the stairs constantly. (rte.ie)
  • courtThe woman originally pleaded not guilty to the murder and later changed her plea to guilty after medical evidence was heard at her trial. (rte.ie)
  • courtThe woman had already pleaded guilty to two counts of cruelty against the boy. (rte.ie)
  • courtThe court will rule on Wednesday on an application by RTÉ and Mediahuis to vary or lift the order. (rte.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge said he would impose the mandatory life sentence on Wednesday. (rte.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 12 Jan2026
    In courtrte.ie, first report
    Mother says son's life taken 'at the hands of pure evil'

    Reports the victim impact evidence from the boy's mother and the trial evidence on the boy's injuries, with sentencing set for Wednesday and a pending media application to vary or lift reporting restrictions.

    victim, 4, maleconvicted, female