Deirdre Morley found not guilty by reason of insanity of murdering her three children

• Published date: 20 May 2021
• Author: Trevor Quinn
• Publication title: DublinLive (Ireland)

The jury of ten men and two women reached their decision after four hours and 23 minutes of deliberations.

Mr Justice Paul Coffey thanked the jury on behalf of the people of Ireland for their time during the "short, very difficult and distressing case".

He exempted them from jury duty for 15 years.

Mr Justice Coffey had earlier told jurors that to return a special verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity they must be satisfied on the balance of probabilities that the 44 year-old was suffering from a mental disorder.

Mr Justice Coffey explained that to come to that decision they must believe she either did not know her actions were wrong, the nature of what she was doing or she was able to refrain herself from committing the acts.

Ms Morley, of Parson's Court, Newcastle, Co Dublin, has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the murder of her sons Conor McGinley, nine, Darragh McGinley, seven and her daughter Carla McGinley, three.

The children's bodies were discovered at the family home just before 8pm on January 24 last year.

Mr Justice Coffey had earlier told jurors that they could bring in a majority verdict - one, where at least 10 of the 12 jurors were agreed - because enough consultation time had elapsed.

He had earlier insisted to jurors that the prosecution and defence's expert witnesses...