Saturday 31 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. 20935Murder · Co. Dublin · 16 Mar 2021

Woman accused of murdering four-year-old boy has manslaughter plea rejected

A four-year-old boy sustained injuries at an address in the south west of the country and died in hospital on 16 March 2021. A 30-year-old woman is charged with his murder, and a co-accused is also before the courts. On 25 May 2023 at the Central Criminal Court, the woman pleaded not guilty to murder, guilty to manslaughter and guilty to two counts of willfully assaulting the child, but the DPP did not accept the manslaughter plea and she was remanded in custody with consent to bail. The murder trial is set for April next year, and the co-accused's trial is listed for 8 April 2024.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court25 May
    2 reports
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
A 30-year-old woman is charged with the murder of a four-year-old boy.
Where
The boy was injured in the south west of the country, and the sources do not name a county.
When
The boy sustained injuries at an address and died in hospital on 16 March 2021.
Cause
The sources do not describe how the boy was injured beyond the injuries sustained at an address.
Charges
  • The woman pleaded guilty to willfully assaulting the child between 1 January and 5 March 2021.
  • The woman pleaded guilty to a second count of willfully assaulting the child between 6 and 11 March 2021.
  • The woman pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter of the child on 16 March 2021.
  • A co-accused was not charged with murder but with other counts similar to the second count against the woman.
In court
  • The case was heard at the Central Criminal Court on 25 May 2023.
  • The DPP did not accept the woman's guilty plea to manslaughter on the first count, so the murder charge will proceed to trial.
  • The woman was remanded in custody with consent to bail, and her murder trial is set for April next year.
  • The co-accused's trial is listed for 8 April 2024.
Other details
Reporting restrictions apply under Section 252 of the Children Act 2001, so the woman cannot be named.
23 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA 30-year-old woman is charged with the murder of a four-year-old boy. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatA woman is charged with the murder of a four-year-old boy. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe boy's death occurred in the south west of the country. (thejournal.ie)
  • whereThe boy's killing is described as taking place in the south west of the country. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe boy died in hospital on 16 March 2021. (thejournal.ie, irishmirror.ie)
  • causeThe boy sustained injuries at an address. (thejournal.ie, irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeThe woman pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter of the child on 16 March 2021. (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeThe woman pleaded guilty to willfully assaulting the child between 1 January and 5 March 2021. (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeThe woman pleaded guilty to a second count of willfully assaulting the child between 6 and 11 March 2021. (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeThe co-accused was not charged with murder but with other counts similar to count two. (thejournal.ie, irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeThe accused pleaded guilty to willfully assaulting the child on a date between 1 January and 5 March 2021. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeThe accused pleaded guilty to a second count of willfully assaulting the child between 6 and 11 March 2021. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe case was heard at the Central Criminal Court. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe DPP said the woman's plea of guilty to manslaughter on the first count was not acceptable. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe murder charge will proceed to trial next year. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe woman's trial date was fixed for April next year. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe co-accused's trial date was listed for 8 April 2024. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe DPP did not accept the accused's plea of guilty to manslaughter on the first count, and the case will go to trial on murder next year. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe accused pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter of the child on 16 March 2021. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe accused's trial date was fixed for April of the following year. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe judge remanded the accused in custody with consent to bail. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge remanded the woman in custody with consent to bail. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherReporting restrictions apply under Section 252 of the Children Act 2001. (thejournal.ie, irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 25 May2023
    In courtirishmirror.ie, first report
    Woman accused of murdering boy, 4, cries as manslaughter plea rejected by court

    Reports the Central Criminal Court hearing on 25 May 2023 where the DPP rejected a manslaughter plea and the accused pleaded guilty to two counts of assaulting the child. Gives the child's death date and the trial date. No county is given for the offence.

    accused, 30, femalevictim, 4, maleaccused
  2. 25 May2023
    In courtthejournal.ie, first report
    Woman's guilty plea to manslaughter of four-year-old boy rejected, murder trial to proceed

    Court hearing at the Central Criminal Court in which the DPP rejected the woman's guilty plea to manslaughter. She pleaded not guilty to murder, pleaded guilty to two counts of willfully assaulting the child, and was remanded in custody with consent to bail. Murder trial set for April next year. Co-accused trial listed for 8 April 2024.

    accused, 30, femalevictim, 4, maleaccused