Mother Sentenced for Killing Son and Attempting to Murder Daughter
By Eve Rosato, BBC News NI
Published 53 minutes ago
A woman, whose convictions for the murder of her baby son and attempted murder of his toddler sister were quashed, has been sentenced to 10 years for infanticide and attempted murder.
In July 2021, the woman stabbed both children, and they were taken to the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children. The girl was successfully treated, but the baby boy was pronounced dead.
Initially convicted and jailed in 2023, senior judges at the Court of Appeal ruled in December 2025 that her convictions were unsafe, leading to a retrial in March of this year. In August, she pleaded guilty to infanticide and attempted murder.
Infanticide is legally defined as the unlawful killing of a child aged under 12 months by their biological mother when, at the time, her "balance of mind was disturbed."
On Tuesday, Mr Justice Fowler referred to expert medical reports indicating that at the time of the stabbings, the woman was experiencing postnatal depression. The court also heard about her troubled relationship with the children’s father, marked by domestic abuse, sexual abuse, and coercive control. She feared for her life and believed her partner or his associates might kill her.
Diary entries suggested she felt overwhelmed by feelings of rejection, abandonment, and emotional despair. Several medical reports stated that given her circumstances, she felt compelled to end her life and that of her children.
A statement regarding the surviving daughter’s impact detailed lifelong consequences, explaining that she experiences "catastrophic" effects, including hypervigilance and sensitivity to environmental changes. She can wake up at night saying she is scared of the dark and remembers her mother.
The woman’s admissions to police immediately after the incident also indicated her depression, with her telling officers: "Considering what I have done, I probably do" (regarding mental health issues) and "Depression? 100% I cry too much."
The judge was satisfied she suffered from mild to moderate depression, more in the moderate range. He acknowledged that her judgment was impaired. She expressed remorse and was considered a victim of modern-day slavery, with the judge noting the offense as an isolated incident but still a serious breach of trust, causing high levels of harm.
She was sentenced to 10 years, with half on licence. Due to time served, she will be released to start her five-year period on licence.
