Ireland - Conor, 9, Darragh, 7, & Carla McGinley, 3, dead, woman taken to hospital, Dublin, Jan 2020

[HayLouise]

27 January 2020:

A woman, believed to be the children’s mother, continues to receive medical treatment at Tallaght University Hospital.

[...]

Co-parish priest of St Finian’s Church, Fr Kevin Doherty, yesterday told RTÉ News, a ‘darkness’ had descended upon the parish.

‘The darkness is so dark,’ he said. ‘It is unspeakable grief, heartbreak, loss. It affects and touches everybody in this community. We had a Communion preparation Mass today and the parents coming, you can see the grief in their hearts and maybe they held their children a little bit closer. It’s out of the darkness somehow we have to find the light.

‘In the kindness of people there is light.’ Extra.ie revealed yesterday that the children’s father discovered the heart-breaking tragedy. Their mother, Deirdre Morley, took an overdose of painkillers following their deaths.

'The darkness is so dark' — Community remains in shock over deaths of McGinley children as post-mortem results withheld

 

[HayLouise]

A nurse at Crumlin Children’s Hospital, Ms Morley had been spotted by a taxi driver walking outside a local graveyard.

He noticed she was walking erratically and stopped out of concern. She gave him her home address and he took her to the Parson’s Court estate.

But along the journey, the drugs made her unresponsive.

[...]

By the time they got to her house, she was unconscious and the driver called an ambulance – just as Mr McGinley arrived home. A Garda squad car also arrived having been alerted by the emergency services.

Mr McGinley then entered the family home and discovered his children’s bodies.

It is understood Ms Morley has been off work for several months with depression and remains unconscious in hospital.

'The darkness is so dark' — Community remains in shock over deaths of McGinley children as post-mortem results withheld

 

[HayLouise]

Gardaí believe the three McGinley children found dead in their Dublin home had been deceased for some time before they were discovered last Friday night.

Conor (9), Darragh (7) and Carla (3) had earlier on Friday attended school and creche and had returned to their home at Parson’s Court, Newcastle, Co Dublin, that afternoon.

The children died later in the afternoon.

Their mother, nurse Deirdre Morley, left the house on Friday evening.

No obvious signs of injury on remains of McGinley children

 

[HayLouise]

Gardaí believe the children were given a substance that either sedated or poisoned them and were then suffocated. There were no obvious signs of injury on their remains.

Ms Morley’s condition was critical by the time she was taken from outside her home to Tallaght Hospital and, while she remained gravely ill in hospital over the weekend, she was expected to survive.

She had been on stress-related leave from Our
Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin, where she worked as a nurse.

No obvious signs of injury on remains of McGinley children

 

[HayLouise]

McGinley children may have been drugged before deaths

 

[HayLouise]

27 January 2020:

People from far and wide are invited to a candle lit vigil in Newcastle as the community grieves over the tragic deaths of young Conor, Darragh, and Carla.

[...]

The interim results of the examinations will not be published for operational reasons, said gardai, who are awaiting further toxicology results.




The close-knit community in Newcastle held a mass on Saturday morning while tomorrow night a candlelight vigil will be held to support their families.

A community rep said: "The Community of Newcastle will hold a candlelit vigil in memory of Conor, Darragh and Carla McGinley and in support of their families on Tuesday the 28th of January in Parsons Court at 7pm .

Newcaslte community to hold candlelight vigil for Conor, Darragh, Carla McGinley

 

[HayLouise]

"They were both wonderful boys and it was a pleasure to have them in our school. They will be greatly missed by all who knew them.

"Offers of support have been pouring in and are really appreciated. Our school has implemented our Critical Incident Management Plan.

"Psychologists from the National Educational Psychological Services (NEPS) have been with us over the weekend and will continue to support and advise us in the coming days."

'They were both wonderful boys and a pleasure to have' - Local Gaelscoil adds to tributes paid to McGinley children - Independent.ie

 

[HayLouise]

The youngest child, Carla, attended the Happy Feet nursery in Rathcoole and staff members from the creche and primary school attended a tribute mass over the weekend.

'They were both wonderful boys and a pleasure to have' - Local Gaelscoil adds to tributes paid to McGinley children - Independent.ie

 

[HayLouise]

Tribute was also paid by the local football team the boys attended, Rathcoole Boys FC.

"It is impossible to put into words the shock and heartfelt sorrow we are all feeling as a result of the tragic loss of Conor, Daragh and Carla," it stated.

"As a Club, we are together and as a Community, we are united in grief. Please keep the McGinely family in your thoughts at this exceptionally difficult time."

'They were both wonderful boys and a pleasure to have' - Local Gaelscoil adds to tributes paid to McGinley children - Independent.ie

 

[HayLouise]

Scoil Chrónáin says Conor & Darragh McGinley were “wonderful boys” & “it was a pleasure to have them in our school.” Happy Feet, where 3 yr old Carla went from 8 months, says she was a “happy little girl, who was very loved by her family”. Counselling services in place at both.

Shane Beatty on Twitter

 

[HayLouise]

28 January 2020:



Andrew McGinley has told parents to 'cuddle your children whenever you get a chance'

[...]

Their father, Andrew McGinley, issued a statement this morning where he says he will "battle every day" to keep their memories alive:

"There are no words. There is only devastation, grief and anguish. Every breath is a struggle.

"Conor, Darragh and Carla are adored. They all had beautiful, bright futures ahead of them with family, friends and a community who love them.

"To all parents, cuddle your children whenever you get a chance, tell them how much you love them as often as you can, spend every spare minute with them reading, playing and enjoying their wonderfulness.

"The future has now become our enemy but we will battle it every day to keep the memory of Conor, Darragh and Carla alive."

Father of three children found dead in Dublin says they had 'bright, beautiful futures'

 

[HayLouise]

29 January 2020:



Andrew McGinley, father of the three deceased children, said that he was grateful for every message of support he had received.

"Thank you all for coming here tonight, thank you for your love, your compassion, your support, and your friendship," he said, fighting back the tears.

"Conor, Darragh, and Carla were loved and adored by each and every one of us. They had a big, beautiful, and bright future ahead of them.

"Thank you for every note, every text, every letter, and every card. Thank you to anyone who has taken the time to send their condolences and to everyone that signed books of condolences. I will make sure to read every one of them."

McGinley was visibly moved by the support and empathy he received from the Newcastle community as well as the many toys that people had left as a mark of respect.

Hundreds gather at candlelit vigil for murdered children

 

[HayLouise]

'I will read every one of them' - Andrew McGinley, father of three children found dead in west Dublin, thanks people for their support & compassion and messages & cards he received - @seanmccarthaigh reports from last night's vigil in Newcastle Andrew McGinley thanks public for messages of support
@IrishTimes

Simon Carswell on Twitter

 

[HayLouise]

11 hours ago:

Gardaí have extended the period of detention of the mother of the three McGinley children found dead in Newcastle, Co Dublin, last week.

Deirdre Morley was arrested on Tuesday evening and taken to Clondalkin Garda station lon Tuesday night where she remained overnight.

Her period of detention, under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, has been extended by a Garda superintendent after the initial allowed period of six hours expired.

She can held without charge for up to 24 hours. However, detention of any suspect being held under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act must be extended by a superintendent for six hours after the first hours expires and by a chief superintendent by 12 hours after the first 12 hours expires.

Gardaí extend period of detention of McGinley children’s mother

 

[HayLouise]

29 January 2020:



Dad of tragic McGinley kids shares heartbreaking handwritten note


Spoke to Andrew McGinley today in his home in Newcastle, Dublin, and he gave me the physical copy of the statement that he released this morning.

The heartbreaking note is below.

He said: "I want people to see this letter so they can see that these words come from my heart."



Saoirse McGarrigle on Twitter

 

[HayLouise]

29 January 2020:


Heartbroken dad Andrew McGinley played his sons’ favourite movies and showed mourners his little girl “Carla’s Corner” – as he promised to “battle every day” to keep their memory alive.

In the home where his precious three children took their last breaths last Friday, he pointed to a poignant collection of toys assembled in the living room.

Close by were recent drawings by Conor, nine, and seven-year-old Darragh.

He had laid out their blue and white football boots, the ones they had pulled on so many times before he proudly cheered them from the sidelines... now, never to be worn again.

Dad of McGinley kids recalls happy memories in house where his world fell apart

 

[HayLouise]

28 January 2020

Book of Condolences opened in Donegal for McGinley family

 

[HayLouise]

29 January 2020:

The mother of the three McGinley children has appeared in court charged with their murder in Newcastle, south Dublin last week.

[...]


Deirdre Morley (43) of Parson’s Court, Newcastle, south west Dublin is charged with three counts of murder at her home on Friday, January 25th, 2020.

The woman appeared at Dublin District Court in the Criminal Courts of Justice on Parkgate Street on Wednesday afternoon after arriving in a black van with tinted windows in the company of detectives.

Ms Morley, who works as a nurse at Crumlin Children’s Hospital, was brought into Court Two through a back entrance.

Wearing a green cardigan, navy top and jeans, Ms Morley sat in the defendants’ area and did not address the short hearing.

Mother of three McGinley children has appeared in court charged with their murder

 

[HayLouise]

Detective Sergeant Dara Kenny told the court Ms Morley made no reply when charged with the three counts of murder at 2.39pm on Wednesday afternoon.

There was no application for bail. Her solicitor Jonathan Dunphy asked that Ms Morley receive medical treatment while in custody as well as continuing psychiatric treatment and assessment.

Judge Paula Murphy agreed to the order. She also granted Ms Morley legal aid after hearing there was no objection from the State.

She also agreed to direct that copies of Ms Morley’s garda interviews be made available to the defence.

The judge remanded Ms Morley in custody until next Wednesday, February 5th, 2020 when she will reappear at Dublin District Court.

Mother of three McGinley children has appeared in court charged with their murder

 

[lonetraveler]

Woman (40s) arrested on suspicion of murder following deaths of three children in Dublin