Deirdre Morley, 44, smothered Conor, 9, Darragh, 7 and Carla, 3, to death at their Dublin home in January 2020. Her husband Andrew McGinley said he is still haunted by the tragedy
A heartbroken father, whose wife took the lives of their three children, has shared that he is still tormented by his son’s last words. Deirdre Morley, 44, tragically killed Conor, 9, Darragh, 7 and Carla, 3, at their Dublin home in January 2020.
Their dad, Andrew McGinley, said he sees “no future” with his wife, who was acquitted of murder due to insanity, and was committed to the Central Mental Hospital. Andrew, an employee at a workplace services firm, said: “With regards to Deirdre, I struggle a lot because all I really hear is Conor’s last words. They echo in my mind quite a lot. So, there is no future I suppose, with myself and Dee. Things can never return to normal for either of us.”
The horrifying triple murder occurred on January 24 2020 in Dublin, Ireland, when Morley descended into a state of delusion and psychosis. Before suffocating her children, she attempted to sedate them, wishing to end her own life and take her children with her, the court was told. On the eve of the tragedy, she spiked the boys’ cereal and Carla’s bottle with morphine, but they spat it out, hours before Conor uttered his final words.
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The chilling final words of his son Conor were pleads to his mother. He said: “Stop mammy, what are you doing?’ as she put a bag over his head, according to what Morley told the police. The grieving dad added: “I know I’ve transformed completely as a person. If I can assist her treatment team or her legal team in any way, I’m more than willing to do so and she’s aware of that too. [If she is released], that’s their call. I’m not the expert. It’s not something I’ve pondered on deeply. But I believe there’s a path to recovery for her.”
It’s believed that Morley could be set free after just five years if medics deem her mentally sound. Morley, a former nurse, pleaded not guilty due to insanity at her trial in Dublin’s Central Criminal Court, Ireland – a stance backed by two consultant psychiatrists, one for the defence and one for the prosecution.
The court was informed of Morley’s severe psychotic depressive illness. She was diagnosed with bipolar affective disorder type two, a recognised mental health condition. She had previously had a four-week stay in a psychiatric hospital, in 2019.
After the failed poisoning, the mum first took the life of Darragh, who was home from school due to illness. In conversations with police, she admitted to thinking: “I could smother him now. I could kill him now.” She confessed that she instantly regretted killing Darragh and wanted to stop, but felt she couldn’t as she “couldn’t leave any of them behind”. After suffocating Darragh and Carla using tape and plastic bags, she picked up Conor from school.
He was engrossed in Jurassic World inside a play tent at home when she approached him with the bag and tape. She proposed a game where they would put tape on their mouths and attempt to talk.
When she placed the bag over his head, he protested: “Stop mammy, what are you doing?” but she responded, “I’m sorry Conor.” Morley informed the police that he hadn’t resisted because she was lying on top of him.
At one point, she admitted thinking, ‘I can’t do this. This is awful. But also that I can’t not do this’ as Conor’s siblings were already deceased. The mother found herself unable to carry his body upstairs to rest next to his younger brother and sister.
Throughout the day, she conversed with her husband over the phone, who claimed he had no suspicions about her wellbeing or behaviour. Morley then tried to end her own life, driving towards the M7 with a bottle of wine and medication in the car before crashing at a roundabout, reports the Irish Mirror.
A passing nurse brought her home before she left the house again and was discovered by a taxi driver “wandering the streets” in a “disoriented state’.” The driver took her home and called an ambulance out of concern, as Andrew returned from a work trip to Cork to discover the bodies of his three children.
He also found a note warning him not to go upstairs, reading “I’m sorry”. Morley was transported to Tallaght University Hospital in Dublin where she later expressed to medical staff that she “wished she had a time machine”, according to court proceedings.
Justice Paul Coffey confirmed that there was no dispute over the verdict, having previously informed the jury: “The doctors are unanimous in their opinions that the accused was legally insane when she killed her three children.” The jury, consisting of 10 men and two women, were instructed that they must be convinced, based on the balance of probabilities, that Morley was experiencing a mental disorder at the time of the murders.
The jury subsequently acquitted her of all three charges on the grounds of insanity. Following the tragic discovery of Connor, Darragh and Carla’s bodies, Andrew urged parents to “cuddle your children whenever you can” and confessed that “every breath is a struggle”.
He expressed his despair at the time, stating: “There are no words. There is only devastation, grief and anguish. Every breath is a struggle. Conor, Darragh and Carla are adored. They all had beautiful, bright futures ahead of them with family, friends and a community who love them.
“To all parents, cuddle your children whenever you get a chance, tell them how much you love them as often as you can, spend every spare minute with them reading, playing and enjoying their wonderfulness. The future has now become our enemy but we will battle it every day to keep the memory of Conor, Darragh and Carla alive.”
During the eulogy at his children’s funeral, he also shared that his children were fans of Lego, the Foo Fighters and the Disney film Frozen. He continued: “We often misuse words. When Ireland would lose a match, I used to say I was heartbroken. I now know what that really means. We, as a family, are heartbroken. Conor, Darragh and Carla. I love you, I love you, I love you.”
Rathcoole Boys Football Club paid tribute by forming a guard of honour outside, acknowledging the boys’ passion for football. Andrew has since launched a YouTube channel, fulfilling a promise he made to Conor before his passing. During the eulogy, he revealed that he had also pledged to coach at Rathcoole Boys FC for Darragh, and to build a snowman for Carla.
He also started Conor’s Clips, a website showcasing a collection of videos in memory of his children. On his fundraising page, he wrote: “After an emotional day I’m able to let you all know that I have been able to keep my promise to Conor and we launched his YouTube channel this afternoon. A mix of happiness and sadness as so happy to have kept my promise but wish I could have done it with Conor.
“One promise down, two to go. Darragh, my course is booked for March 19th so I’m on track to keep my promise to you. Carla, I may have to borrow a snow machine!” Andrew expressed gratitude to those who have contributed to the fundraiser, established by a member of the Newcastle Community, and mentioned that he has been reading their ‘beautiful messages’.
“I’m honestly humbled by all your messages and the sentiments within,” he expressed, adding: “What you may not realise is how much your messages mean to me and I thank you all.” Andrew shared on the YouTube channel that Conor had revealed his desire to establish a YouTube channel last Christmas. “I promised to help him to do that,” he penned. “I hope this channel has kept my promise.”
The heartwarming series of clips featured the three children engaging in playful antics at ‘sleepy time’, reenacting a scene from the Lion King in their garden, and participating in a game of charades. Three-year-old Carla, an avid Frozen fan, is captivated by festive snowmen in one video, while her brother Darragh tries his hand at news broadcasting in another.
The bereaved father later reached out to the public, asking them to write him letters as he struggled with the loneliness of lockdown. He posted on Twitter: ‘I’m looking for a favour. I’m struggling with isolation like you all but really missing the company. I was also enjoying most of the letters that I received so I have a request. Can you write to me? If you feel like using one of postcards then great. Letters welcome.’
