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. 4628Murder · 13 Mar 2021

Pathologist tells murder trial that boy's head and liver injuries caused his death

A State Pathologist told the Central Criminal Court that a boy who died in March 2021 suffered head and liver injuries associated with trauma, not a fall from a bunk bed. His stepmother, in her 30s, has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, and the trial continues.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court10 Nov
  5. Convicted11 Nov
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
20 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA woman in her 30s pleaded guilty to the murder of her four-year-old stepson. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe child was brought to hospital on 13 March 2021 with suspected non-accidental injuries. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe child died at 1.15pm on 16 March 2021. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe boy was murdered at the defendant's home in March 2021. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeThe child died from injuries to the head and liver. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeThe pathologist said the cause of death was a traumatic head injury with blunt force trauma to the abdomen. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeEither the head injury or the liver injury could have independently caused death. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeThe cause of death was a traumatic head injury together with blunt force trauma to the abdomen. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationA garda searched the house where the child had lived with his father and stepmother. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationAuthorities first became aware of the abuse when the child's father called 999 on 13 March 2021, saying the boy had fallen from a top bunk. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeThe stepmother pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to the boy's manslaughter in March 2021. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe trial was before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury of four women and eight men. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtShe had earlier pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe trial was being held at the Central Criminal Court. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe case was adjourned to 1 December, when the defendant will face sentence. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe mandatory sentence for murder is life imprisonment. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe pathologist said the head injury was not consistent with a fall from a bunk bed. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe child's father said the head injury was caused by a fall from a top bunk. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe pathologist said the bruising pattern was not typical of a child. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe child's mother is to make a statement to the court before sentence is passed. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 11 Nov2025
    Convictedirishtimes.com, first report
    Stepmother accused of murdering four-year-old boy changes plea to guilty

    Reports the defendant's guilty plea to murder at the Central Criminal Court, the adjournment to 1 December for sentencing, and medical evidence on the cause of death.

    convicted, 30s, femalevictim, 4, male
  2. 10 Nov2025
    In courtirishtimes.com, first report
    Child died of injuries associated with road traffic collisions or striking trauma, murder trial hears

    Pathologist evidence at the Central Criminal Court murder trial of the child's stepmother. Her pleas and the cause of death are reported. The article is dated 2025-11-10 but the events are from March 2021. Her county is not stated.

    victim, maleaccused, 30s, female