Inquests into deaths of three children killed by their mother to take place before end of year

Andrew McGinley arriving at the Dublin District Coroner's Court. Picture: Sam Boal/Collins Photos

The father of three children killed by their mother at their family home in south Dublin five years ago has welcomed news that inquests into their deaths are scheduled to be heard before the end of the year.

However, the scope of the inquiry to be held by the senior coroner in Dublin, Myra Cullinane, has still to be determined.

Dr Cullinane told a brief sitting of Dublin District Coroner’s Court on Wednesday that she planned to hold the inquests into the deaths of Conor, 9, Darragh, 7, and three-year-old Carla McGinley before the end of 2025.

The bodies of the three children were discovered at their family home in Parson’s Court, Newcastle, Co Dublin, on January 24, 2020.

At the opening of the inquests into the children’s deaths in September 2020, it was revealed autopsies had shown the three young siblings had died from suffocation.

Their mother, Deirdre Morley, a paediatric nurse, was subsequently found not guilty of their murder by reason of insanity following a trial at the Central Criminal Court in May 2021.

The children’s father, Andrew McGinley, has called for the scope of the inquests into their deaths to be widened to examine the diagnosis and treatment of his wife’s mental illness before the tragic event.

At the latest sitting of the inquests, Dr Cullinane asked all interested parties to confirm there would be no further submissions in relation to the scope of her inquiry in addition to those requested at a previous hearing in June 2023.

Submissions have already been made on behalf of consultant psychiatrist Olivia Gibbons, Mr McGinley, and the HSE.

Andrew McGinley with his children Conor, Darragh, and Carla.

Counsel for Ms Morley, Nora-Pat Stewart BL, confirmed she would not be making any submission on the scope of the inquiry. Ms Stewart also acknowledged there was no reason why proceeding with the inquests would not be in her client’s interest.

The coroner said she would issue her ruling on the scope of the inquiry by correspondence with the parties by July 31.

It was also agreed between the parties there would be full disclosure of Ms Morley’s medical records without any redactions.

The coroner heard some medical records were already available to the relevant parties “as part of another process”. 

Counsel for Dr Gibbons, Simon Mills SC, confirmed his client had no objections to the disclosure of such documents.

Dr Cullinane replied she intended to share the medical records, which would cover a significant time period, with the parties “within days”. The coroner said she would also make available the reports of two forensic psychiatrists who had examined Ms Morley after the deaths of her three children, as well as a transcript of her trial and the Garda file on the investigation.

Ms Stewart also applied for legal aid for Ms Morley, who attended the hearing via videolink, so she could be represented at inquests that would involve “particularly difficult matters” in which complex issues were expected to arise.

Dr Cullinane noted legislation only allowed legal aid to be granted to one family member, but granted the application after no objections were raised to the application.

The coroner said it was ultimately a matter for the Legal Aid Board to confirm if legal aid would be certified.

She adjourned the hearing for mention to October 3 to indicate a list of witnesses expected to give evidence.

Dr Cullinane said she intended to hold the full inquests “shortly thereafter”, which she indicated would be before the end of the year.

Speaking after the hearing, Mr McGinley said he welcomed the fact that the process was moving forward and expressed hope there would be “an extended scope” to the inquests.

“An inquest is to be a clear and transparent process. It can only be done if everybody engages positively with it. That’s why I’m here,” said Mr McGinley.