Ireland Named in reporting
Ruth Purcell Healy
Born 1987, from the ages reported. 12 reports across 1 case, 13 Feb 2024 to 3 Dec 2025
Key facts
from every report naming them- Named as
- Accused, suspect
- Born
- 1987, from the ages reported
- Offences
- Murder
- Where
- Co. Waterford
- Reporting
- 12 reports, 13 Feb 2024 to 3 Dec 2025
- Outlets
- thejournal.ie, rte.ie, irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie, corkbeo.ie, gript.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- Trial delayed in Waterford murder of six-year-old boy Murder · Co. Waterford
Six-year-old Matthew Healy was found unresponsive in a car at Rathmoylan Cove, Dunmore East, County Waterford, shortly after midnight on 9 February 2024, and was later pronounced dead at University Hospital Waterford. His mother, Ruth Purcell Healy, 37, was arrested at the scene and charged with his murder on 13 February 2024. She was remanded in custody and returned for trial to the Central Criminal Court in June 2024. The trial has been delayed because the State was unable to secure a consultant forensic psychiatrist in Ireland to prepare a report on the accused, and a psychiatrist based in Australia was found in December 2025 with the matter listed for mention on 25 February.
In court, 13 Feb 2024Accused, suspect · 12 reports
Timeline
every report naming Ruth Purcell Healy, newest firstEach entry shows how that report described them.
- 3 Dec2025Media coverage leads to State finding psychiatrist to assess mother charged with murder of son (6)accused, Ruth Purcell Healy, 37, female, named, irish (judged from name)Ruth Purcell Healy
- 19 Nov2025State's inability to facilitate trial process criticisedsuspect, Ruth Purcell Healy, 37, female, named, irish (judged from name)Ruth Purcell Healy
- 19 Nov2025‘Completely unacceptable’ trial delays over woman charged with murdering son (6)accused, Ruth Purcell Healy, 37, female, named, irish (judged from name)Ruth Purcell Healy
- 20 Jun2024Mother silent as she appears in court charged with murder of her sonaccused, Ruth Purcell Healy, 37, female, named, irish (judged from name)Ruth Purcell Healy
- 20 Jun2024Woman sent forward for trial over murder of sonaccused, Ruth Purcell Healy, 37, female, named, irish (judged from name)Ruth Purcell Healy
- 5 Mar2024Woman accused of murdering Matthew Healy (6) ‘medically unwell’ and not in courtaccused, Ruth Purcell Healy, 37, female, named, irish (judged from name)Ruth Purcell Healy
- 20 Feb2024Woman accused of murdering son unable to appear in courtaccused, Ruth Purcell Healy, 37, female, named, irish (judged from name)Ruth Purcell Healy
- 20 Feb2024Woman charged with murdering her son (6) in Co Waterford further remanded in custodyaccused, Ruth Purcell Healy, female, named, irish (judged from name)Ruth Purcell Healy
- 14 Feb2024Mother of Matthew Healy charged with murder of her 6-year-old sonaccused, Ruth Purcell Healy, 37, female, named, irish (judged from name)Ruth Purcell Healy
- 14 Feb2024Woman appears in court charged with murder of her six-year-old son in Waterfordaccused, Ruth Purcell Healy, 37, female, named, irish (judged from name)Ruth Purcell Healy
- 13 Feb2024Woman charged with murder of her son Matthew Healy (6) in Co Waterfordaccused, Ruth Purcell Healy, female, named, irish (judged from name)Ruth Purcell Healy
- 13 Feb2024Mother of Matthew Purcell Healy charged with murder - Griptaccused, Ruth Purcell Healy, 37, female, named, irish (judged from name)Ruth Purcell Healy
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.