'Deeply manipulative' man who killed toddler must serve 25 years in jail

A man has been ordered to serve at least 25 years for murdering the 15-month-old daughter of his former partner.

Barry McCarney (aged 33) of Co Tyrone was found guilty last month of Millie Martin’s murder in Enniskillen in 2009.

Setting the minimum tariff McCarney must serve before being considered for release, Mr Justice Ben Stephens told the labourer at Belfast Crown Court he was a “deeply manipulative man” who had carried out a “sadistic sexual assault” on the child.

McCarney was also found guilty of grevious bodily harm with intent and the sexual assault of Millie.

Justice Stephens told him he must serve at least six and two years for those crimes respectively, but those terms will run concurrently with his murder tariff.

McCarney, from Woodview Crescent, Trillick, Co Tyrone, showed little emotion as the judge delivered his sentencing remarks.

Millie’s mother Rachael Martin looked on from the public gallery.

At the same trial last year, she was acquitted of charges of allowing her daughter’s death and cruelty through wilful neglect.

Outside court, Ms Martin criticised the length of tariff handed to her ex-boyfriend.

She said: “I don’t think it was long enough, 25 years isn’t long enough.”