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. 5415Murder · Co. Offaly · 29 Sep 2023

Teenager who pleaded guilty to murdering Lorna Woodnutt awaits sentence

A 17-year-old boy pleaded guilty to murdering Lorna Woodnutt, 51, at a property outside Tullamore, Co Offaly, on 29 September 2023. The Central Criminal Court heard his sentence hearing and adjourned the case to 3 October.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Convicted22 Jul
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
15 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA teenage boy killed Lorna Woodnutt, 51, with hammers. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatMs Woodnutt had fatal blunt force injuries to the head, face and chest. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe killing happened at a property in a rural area outside Tullamore, Co Offaly. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe killing happened on 29 September 2023. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeThe boy told gardaí he got angry during an argument with Ms Woodnutt. (irishtimes.com)
  • weaponThe boy used a sledgehammer and a lump hammer. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe boy recorded a video of the scene and shared it on Snapchat. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe boy called 999 twice after the killing. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationAnalysis of the boy's phone showed searches about hammer attacks and phone tracking. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe boy pleaded guilty earlier this month to murdering Ms Woodnutt. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe sentence hearing was held at the Central Criminal Court. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe judge needed a probation report before sentencing. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe case was adjourned to 3 October. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe boy was to be detained at Oberstown Children Detention Centre until the adjourned date. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe boy was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder at 18 months old. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 22 Jul2024
    Convictedirishtimes.com, first report
    Teenage boy killed Lorna Woodnutt in hammer attack and posted video online, court hears

    Reports the sentence hearing at the Central Criminal Court, including the victim impact statements, the boy's interview accounts and phone evidence, and the adjournment to 3 October.

    victim, Lorna Woodnutt, 51, female, irish (judged from name)Lorna Woodnuttconvicted, 17, male