Mother sentenced for killing son and attempting to murder daughter

A woman, whose convictions for the murder of her baby son and attempted murder of his toddler sister were quashed, has been sentenced to 10 years for infanticide and attempted murder.

The woman stabbed both children in July 2021 and they were taken to the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children.

The girl was successfully treated but the baby boy was pronounced dead.

The woman was convicted and jailed in 2023 for murdering her eight-week-old son and attempting to murder his toddler sister.

In December 2025, senior judges in the Court of Appeal ruled those convictions were unsafe.

In March of this year, the court ordered a retrial.

In August, the woman, whose identity is protected by an anonymity order, pleaded guilty to infanticide and attempted murder.

Infanticide is legally defined as the unlawful killing of a child aged under 12 months, by its biological mother, when at the time the "balance of the mother's mind was disturbed".

On Tuesday, Mr Justice Fowler referred to expert medical reports detailing that at the time of the stabbings the woman was experiencing postnatal depression.

The court also heard that her relationship with the father of her children was "characterised by domestic abuse, sexual abuse and coercive control".

She feared that her partner or people associated with him might kill her.

The judge said diary entries by her suggest she was "overwhelmed by feelings of rejection, abandonment and emotional despair".

Several medical reports said she felt in her circumstances that she had no alternative but to end her life and that of her children.

A statement relating to the woman's surviving daughter detailed the "catastrophic impact" on her explaining that it would be lifelong.

The court heard the incident happened at a crucial time in the child's development and she experienced "abandonment, rejection and loss".

The young girl is now in foster care and was described as happy and settled but it was reported that she remains hyper vigilant and sensitive to changes in her environment.

Following indirect contact with her mother the court heard that the child experiences "significant difficulties" and can wake at night and say "she is scared of the dark and mummy".

The judge referenced the woman's admissions to police in the immediate aftermath of the incident.

She indicated to them that she was suffering from depression, when asked if she had mental health issues she told police: "Considering what I have done, I probably do".

When asked if she was depressed, she responded: "Depression? 100% I cry too much."

The judge said he was "satisfied that she was suffering from mild to moderate depression. Probably more to the moderate range".

He agreed that her judgement was impacted.

He noted she had expressed remorse, was a victim of modern-day slavery, and said the offending was an isolated incident but also said it represented a serious breach of trust and that the level of harm done was high.

She was sentenced to 10 years, half on licence.

Due to time served she is set to be released to start her five-year-period on licence.

Conditions imposed include that she is not to have any contact with anyone under 18 years of age and must attend any necessary medical appointments.