Woman pleads guilty to manslaughter of her son, 8

A Cork woman pleaded guilty yesterday to the manslaughter of her eight-year-old son, Anthony, in 2012.

Diane Ward, aged 45, of Harrison Place, Charleville, will be sentenced next Monday to allow time for psychiatric evidence to be given to the court.

Ward appeared at the Central Criminal Court yesterday where she pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter.

The court heard that her plea to manslaughter was accepted by the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Paul Burns SC prosecuting told the court “psychiatric evidence is not available on today’s date” and asked that sentencing take place next week to allow time for evidence to be provided. Mr Justice Paul Carney said sentencing would take place next Monday.