Killer sister wants to care for baby in jail

SOCIAL workers are assessing the possibility of murderer Charlotte Mulhall caring for her infant boy behind bars temporarily.

The young mother was given a life sentence this week for the savage murder of her mother’s Kenyan partner. With her sister, Linda, the two Tallaght women cut the body of Farah Swaleh Noor into pieces before dumping the headless remains in the Royal Canal.

As both settled into the Dochas centre attached to Mountjoy Prison yesterday, it emerged Charlotte Mulhall wants to see her eight-month-old child.

The baby, however, was taken into State care during the trial.

A prison staff source said yesterday: “She has no custody of the child and will have to go through that process before she can apply for the child to join her in prison. Social workers are assessing the safety bringing the child into the prison, conditions and the appropriateness of it.”

During the sentencing, Charlotte Mulhall’s barrister said arrangements were being made for the care of the young boy. Any assessment will have to be submitted to a judge before it is decided whether Charlotte Mulhall can care for her baby boy behind bars. But this looks unlikely, according to prison legislation.

The Irish Prison Service yesterday refused to comment specifically on the case. However, a statement by the service said infants brought into prison could only stay at a maximum up until 12-months-of-age, except in exceptional circumstances.

“The Rules for the Government of Prisons, 1947, state that: The child of a female prisoner may be received into prison with its mother, provided it is at the breast.

“When the child has attained the age of nine months the medical officer shall report whether it is desirable or necessary that it should be any longer retained, but except under special circumstances the child shall not be kept in prison after it has arrived at the age of twelve months

“However, it is the view of the Irish Prison Service that prison is a completely inappropriate environment for infants.”

Sources close to Linda Mulhall yesterday confirmed the mother-of-four is intent on studying during her 15 year manslaughter sentence.

“She wants to do her Leaving Cert,” said a source.

The older sister has tried to harm herself by cutting her arms over the past year. The wife of her brother, John Mulhall, is caring for the four children, aged eight to 13, according to gardaí.

Meanwhile, senior gardaí denied reports they have spoken to the sisters’ mother, Kathleen. She is believed to have fled the country and despite detectives knowing her location, no contact has yet been made.