Ireland Named in reporting
John Paul O'Connell
Born 1989, from the ages reported. 14 reports across 1 case, 8 Sep 2021 to 23 Jan 2026
Key facts
from every report naming them- Named as
- Convicted, accused, suspect
- Born
- 1989, from the ages reported
- Offences
- Murder
- Reporting
- 14 reports, 8 Sep 2021 to 23 Jan 2026
- Outlets
- limerickpost.ie, limerickleader.ie, corkbeo.ie, irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com, rte.ie
Photographs
as published, with the outlet's credit
Images are shown from the outlet that published them and link back to the article. Copyright stays with the credited photographer or agency.
Cases
latest first- Stepmother sentenced to life for murder of four-year-old in Limerick Murder
Four-year-old Mason O'Connell Conway was found with critical head injuries at a house in Rathbane, Limerick, on 13 March 2021 and died three days later at Temple Street Children's Hospital in Dublin. His stepmother Tegan McGhee, a woman aged 32, and his father John Paul O'Connell, a man aged 36, were charged in October 2022 after earlier arrests in 2021. McGhee's murder trial at the Central Criminal Court began in November 2025, during which she changed her plea from not guilty to guilty after medical evidence was heard. On 14 January 2026, Mr Justice Paul McDermott sentenced McGhee to life imprisonment for the murder and four years and six months for two counts of child cruelty, while O'Connell had previously been sentenced to seven years for endangerment, neglect and impeding McGhee's prosecution.
Sentenced, 14 Jan 2026Convicted, accused, suspect · 14 reports
Timeline
every report naming John Paul O'Connell, newest firstEach entry shows how that report described them.
- 23 Jan2026Woman gets life in prison over murder of partner's four-year-old sonconvicted, John Paul O'Connell, 36, named, irish (judged from name)John Paul O'Connell
- 18 Jan2026Sister of Limerick child murderer Tegan McGhee tells her: 'I hope you rot in hell'convicted, John Paul O'Connell, male, named, irish (judged from name)John Paul O'Connell
- 14 Jan2026'Pure evil' stepmother who murdered Limerick boy (4) named in courtconvicted, John Paul O'Connell, 36, male, named, irish (judged from name)John Paul O'Connell
- 14 Jan2026'I have never heard so much evil in all my life': Limerick mum speaks out after son's murderer is jailedconvicted, John Paul O'Connell, 36, male, named, irish (judged from name)John Paul O'Connell
- 14 Jan2026BREAKING: 'Evil' stepmother, who murdered Limerick boy, is named after judge lifts reporting restrictionsconvicted, John Paul O'Connell, 36, male, named, irish (judged from name)John Paul O'Connell
- 14 Jan2026'Pure evil' stepmother who murdered 4 year-old boy in Limerick named in courtconvicted, John Paul O'Connell, 36, male, named, irish (judged from name)John Paul O'Connell
- 14 Jan2026Tegan McGhee’s murder trial: The full storyconvicted, John Paul O'Connell, male, named, irish (judged from name)John Paul O'Connell
- 14 Jan2026Woman, 32, jailed for life over murder of partner's sonconvicted, John Paul O'Connell, named, irish (judged from name)John Paul O'Connell
- 9 Oct2022BREAKING: Woman charged with the murder of four-year-old Limerick boysuspect, John Paul O'Connell, 33, male, named, irish (judged from name)John Paul O'Connell
- 7 Oct2022Man and woman charged in relation to alleged murder of four-year-old boyaccused, John Paul O'Connell, 33, male, named, irish (judged from name)John Paul O'Connell
- 7 Oct2022#BREAKING - Father and his partner charged over murder of 4-year-old Limerick boysuspect, John Paul O'Connell, 33, male, named, irish (judged from name)John Paul O'Connell
- 7 Oct2022Man and woman charged over death of boy (4) in Limericksuspect, John Paul O'Connell, 33, male, named, irish (judged from name)John Paul O'Connell
- 9 Sep2021Gardai to await DPP’s directions following arrest of woman in connection with death of four-year old boysuspect, John Paul O'Connell, male, named at arrest, irish (judged from name)John Paul O'Connell
- 8 Sep2021Woman arrested in connection with death of four-year old Limerick boysuspect, John Paul O'Connell, 30s, male, named at arrest, irish (judged from name)John Paul O'Connell
Matched on the name as printed, ignoring quoted nicknames, and split by the ages reported. Two people who share a name and age would appear together here.