Cork mother ‘depressed and suicidal’ when she killed eight-year-old son, court told
The Central Criminal Court has heard a Cork woman was depressed and suicidal when she killed her eight-year-old son.
Diane Ward will be sentenced in July for the manslaughter of her son Anthony who she smothered with a pillow at their home at Harrison's Place in Charleville on September 3 2012.
Diane Ward left a note asking for her and her son Anthony to be buried together before attempting to take both their lives.
She survived the suicide attempt but tragically she smothered her eight-year-old son to death in bed just hours before he was due to start a new school year.
The 44-year-old admits manslaughter and has been in the Central Mental Hospital since 2012 for recurrent depressive disorder.
However, Consultant Psychiatrist Dr Helen O'Neill has said at this time Diane Ward no longer meets the criteria for a mental disorder.
Mr Justice Barry White has indicated he might consider a non-custodial sentence but he's put the case back until July 7 for an update on what services can be put in place for her.
He said it would be “highly inappropriate for Diane Ward to be released into society without any back up”.
