Ireland Teenager remanded over murder of Lorna Woodnutt in Offaly
A 16-year-old boy has been charged with the murder of Lorna Woodnutt, a woman in her 40s, who died at a house in a rural area about 12km outside Tullamore, Co Offaly, on Friday 29 September 2023. Gardaí responded at about 1pm, and the boy was arrested at the scene; he is alleged to have struck her head repeatedly with a sledgehammer, and the attack was reportedly live-streamed. He was charged on Saturday 30 September 2023 and appeared at a special sitting of Tullamore District Court, where he was remanded in detention at Oberstown Detention Centre. On 4 October 2023 he was further remanded in detention for two weeks and is due to appear again on 18 October 2023 at 10.15am.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrested30 Sep
4 reports - Charged30 Sep
2 reports - In court30 Sep
2 reports - Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- A 16-year-old boy has been charged with the murder of Lorna Woodnutt; some reports describe him only as a teenager.
- Lorna Woodnutt, a woman in her 40s, died after suffering fatal head injuries.
- Where
- The death happened at a house in a rural area about 12km outside Tullamore, Co Offaly.
- When
- Gardaí responded at about 1pm on Friday 29 September 2023, and the death is reported to have occurred that afternoon.
- Weapon
- The boy is alleged to have used a sledgehammer to repeatedly strike the victim in the head; one report says a blunt instrument was used.
- Cause
- The attack was reportedly live-streamed on social media.
- Investigation
- The boy was arrested at the scene and detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984, at a Garda station in the Midlands.
- The boy was known to the victim, and gardaí said they were not looking for any other persons in connection with the incident.
- The scene was preserved for forensic examination, the State Pathologist was contacted, and an incident room was set up at Tullamore Garda station.
- Other details
- A Family Liaison Officer has been appointed in the case.
- Gardaí said footage of the killing was circulating on social media and urged people not to share it; sharing a video connected with the incident is a criminal offence carrying a maximum of three years' imprisonment and a fine of over €12,000.
- Charges
- The boy was charged at 8.50pm on Saturday 30 September 2023 and was due before a special sitting of Tullamore District Court that night.
- In court
- At the special sitting he made no reply after caution, no bail application was made, and Judge Andrew Cody remanded him in detention at a youth detention centre.
- On 4 October 2023, by video-link from Oberstown Detention Centre, he was remanded in detention for another two weeks, with the charge sheet spelling of a surname amended and the matter heard in camera.
77 statements extracted from the articles
- whatA teenager is believed to have bludgeoned a woman to death with a sledgehammer while live-streaming the aftermath. (corkbeo.ie)
- whatThe victim is named as Lorna Woodnutt, who suffered fatal injuries to her head. (corkbeo.ie)
- whatThe body of a woman aged in her 40s was discovered in the property. (corkbeo.ie)
- whatA teenager is believed to have bludgeoned a woman to death with a sledgehammer. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatGardaí charged a teenager who was arrested over the killing of a woman in Tullamore. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe victim suffered horrific head injuries in the alleged attack. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatA teenage boy has been charged with the murder of Lorna Woodnutt. (irishtimes.com)
- whatA teenager accused of the murder of a woman in Offaly has been remanded in detention for another two weeks. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe killing occurred at a house in a rural area outside Tullamore, Co Offaly. (corkbeo.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe death happened just outside Tullamore, Co Offaly. (dublinlive.ie)
- whereThe incident happened at a house in a rural area outside Tullamore. (dublinlive.ie)
- whereThe incident took place at a residential property in a rural area outside Tullamore. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe death happened at a house in a rural area outside Tullamore, Co Offaly. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe incident happened at a property about 12km outside Tullamore. (irishtimes.com)
- whereLorna Woodnutt died at a property in County Offaly. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe killing is alleged to have happened at a location in County Offaly. (irishtimes.com)
- whenGardaí responded at about 1pm on Friday 29 September 2023. (corkbeo.ie)
- whenGardaí and emergency services responded at about 1pm. (dublinlive.ie)
- whenThe incident took place on Friday 29 September 2023. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe death occurred on Friday 29 September. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenGardaí and emergency services responded at about 1pm to reports of a violent incident at a residential property near Tullamore. (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
- whenThe charge concerns a killing on Friday night in Co Offaly. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe death occurred on Friday afternoon, 29 September 2023. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenLorna Woodnutt died on a Friday afternoon. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe alleged murder took place on Friday, September 29th. (irishtimes.com)
- causeThe attack was reportedly live-streamed on social media. (dublinlive.ie)
- weaponThe boy is alleged to have used a sledgehammer to repeatedly strike the victim in the head. (corkbeo.ie)
- weaponThe suspect is alleged to have used a sledgehammer to strike the victim in the head. (dublinlive.ie)
- weaponThe alleged weapon was a sledgehammer, used to repeatedly strike the woman's head. (irishmirror.ie)
- weaponThe woman was allegedly killed with a blunt instrument. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationA male child was arrested at the scene and detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984, at a Garda station in the Midlands. (corkbeo.ie)
- investigationThe boy was known to the woman and gardaí are not looking for any other persons in connection with the incident. (corkbeo.ie)
- investigationGardaí said they were aware that footage of the killing was on social media. (corkbeo.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí appealed to anyone who receives the images not to share them further. (corkbeo.ie)
- investigationThe scene has been preserved for forensic examination and the State Pathologist has been contacted. (corkbeo.ie)
- investigationAn incident room has been established at Tullamore Garda station. (corkbeo.ie)
- investigationA 16-year-old boy was arrested at the scene and detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984. (dublinlive.ie)
- investigationGardaí are investigating the circumstances of the death. (dublinlive.ie)
- investigationThe scene has been preserved for forensic examination and the State Pathologist contacted. (dublinlive.ie)
- investigationAn incident room has been set up at Tullamore Garda station. (dublinlive.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- investigationA male was arrested. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí said the investigation was at an early stage. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationImages of the incident were circulating and gardaí appealed for people not to share them. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationA male child was arrested at the scene and was detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984, at a Garda station in the Midlands. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí said they were not looking for any other persons in connection with the incident. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe teenager was arrested at the scene. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe 16-year-old boy was taken into garda custody on the Friday night. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí said footage of the killing was on social media and urged people not to view or share it. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGarda investigations were ongoing. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe teenager was arrested on Friday after Ms Woodnutt was found dead. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeA teenage boy has been charged with killing a woman. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeThe boy was charged and was due to appear before a special sitting of Tullamore District Court on Saturday night. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeThe boy was arrested and charged at 8.50pm on Saturday. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeThe teenager is accused of murdering Lorna Woodnutt. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe male child was due before a special sitting of Tullamore District Court at 9.30pm on Saturday 30 September 2023. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtDetective Sergeant Caroline Lyng told a special sitting of Tullamore District Court about the charge. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe boy made no reply after caution. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThere was no application for bail. (irishtimes.com)
- courtJudge Andrew Cody remanded the boy at a youth detention centre. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe boy is to appear again by videolink at 10.15am on Wednesday. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe accused appeared before Judge Andrew Cody at Tullamore District Court by video-link from Oberstown Detention Centre. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe teenager was remanded in detention at Oberstown to appear again on October 18th at 10.15am. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe judge said the matter was in camera, so only gardaí, the accused's solicitor, court staff and press were present. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe judge allowed a minor amendment to the charge sheet changing the spelling of a surname. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe teenager was first brought before the District Court the previous Saturday evening and made no reply after arrest, charge and caution. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe judge said the period of remand could be up to 14 days because it was the accused's second remand in detention. (irishtimes.com)
- otherA Family Liaison Officer has been appointed in the case. (corkbeo.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe suspect was known to the victim. (dublinlive.ie)
- otherGardaí appealed for people not to share images of the incident. (dublinlive.ie)
- otherNo further details were being provided at the time of writing. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe body of a woman in her 40s was found in the property. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe boy was known to the woman. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe victim was named locally as Lorna Woodnutt. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe body of a woman aged in her 40s was discovered at the property. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe teenage boy suspected of carrying out the attack was known to the victim. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherReporting restrictions in the case extend beyond newspapers, sound and television broadcasts to social media. (irishtimes.com)
- otherSharing a video connected with the incident is a criminal offence carrying a maximum penalty of three years' imprisonment and a fine of over €12,000. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 4 Oct2023Teenager further remanded over Offaly woman’s murder
Reports the accused's further remand in custody at Tullamore District Court, the charge being amended by changing the spelling of a surname, and reporting restrictions in the case. The article gives no details of the incident beyond the date and place.
victim, Lorna Woodnutt, female, irish (judged from name)Lorna Woodnuttaccused, male - 30 Sep2023Teenage boy appears in court charged with murder of woman in Offaly
Adds the court appearance at a special sitting of Tullamore District Court, the charge time, the lack of a reply after caution, no bail application, the remand to a youth detention centre, and legal aid. Gives the victim's age range as in her 40s.
victim, Lorna Woodnutt, 40sLorna Woodnuttaccused, teenage, male - 30 Sep2023Gardai charge teenage boy in connection with 'violent' Tullamore killing
Reports that the 16-year-old boy was arrested on the Friday night and charged, with a court appearance set for a special sitting of Tullamore District Court on Saturday 30 September. It also gives the location as a house in a rural area outside Tullamore, says the suspect was known to the victim, and notes that footage of the killing was circulating on social media.
accused, 16, malevictim, Lorna Woodnutt, femaleLorna Woodnutt - 30 Sep2023Gardaí charge teenager over death of woman in Offaly
Reports the teenager's charge and the 16-year-old's age, the location about 12km outside Tullamore, the weapon, the arrest at the scene and the victim's name as given locally. Adds detail to the existing murder case.
victim, Lorna Woodnutt, 40s, female, non-irish (judged from name)Lorna Woodnuttaccused, 16, male - 30 Sep2023Teenager arrested after woman dies in 'violent incident' in Tullamore
Adds the garda statement, the arrest of a 16-year-old boy at the scene, the alleged use of a sledgehammer, the report that the attack was live-streamed, the appointment of a Family Liaison Officer, and the set-up of an incident room at Tullamore Garda station. Reports the boy was known to the victim. Does not report a charge.
victim, Lorna Woodnutt, 40s, female, irish (judged from name)Lorna Woodnuttsuspect, 16, male - 30 Sep2023Man arrested as gardaí called to scene of 'violent incident' at Offaly home
Early garda statement on the arrest of a male after a violent incident outside Tullamore on Friday 29 September 2023. It names no victim or suspect and gives no offence, and it matches the date and place of the existing Lorna Woodnutt case.
suspect, male - 30 Sep2023First photo of woman killed in 'violent incident' in Tullamore as teen arrested
Adds that the teenage suspect is reportedly 16, that the attack was allegedly live-streamed on social media, the weapon reported, the garda statement on the arrest and the appeal against sharing images. Gardaí are not looking for any other persons.
victim, Lorna Woodnutt, 40s, female, irish (judged from name)Lorna Woodnuttsuspect, 16, male - 30 Sep2023Victim of Offaly murder named as parents urged to protect kids from horror vids
Names the victim as Lorna Woodnutt, reports the sledgehammer allegation and live-streaming claim, and adds the garda appeal not to share images or videos. Confirms the boy was arrested at the scene and detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984.
victim, Lorna Woodnutt, 40s, female, irish (judged from name)Lorna Woodnuttsuspect, 16, male