Decision on Scope of Inquest into McGinley Children's Deaths Expected Soon

Andrew McGinley arrived at the Dublin District Coroner's Court on Store Street, Dublin this morning. A decision on whether the scope of an inquest will include psychiatric care provided to a mother before she killed her three children in Dublin five years ago will be made this month. Senior coroner Dr Myra Cullinane mentioned that she hoped the inquest into the deaths of Conor McGinley (9), Darragh McGinley (7), and Carla McGinley (3) would be heard this year.

The children were killed by their mother, Deirdre Morley, a paediatric nurse, at their family home in Newcastle, Co Dublin, on January 24th, 2020. Their father, Andrew McGinley, discovered their bodies. Ms Morley, found not guilty of their murder by reason of insanity, attended the preliminary inquest hearing remotely on Wednesday.

At a preliminary inquest hearing in 2023, Mr McGinley sought to widen the scope of the inquest to include the care his wife received in the preceding two years. Dr Cullinane mentioned that she would rule on the scope of the inquiry later this month as no further submissions were received. The inquest was adjourned to October for witnesses to be considered.

Speaking after the hearing, Mr McGinley expressed that it was positive that the inquest into his children's deaths is moving forward. He emphasized the importance of a clear and transparent process and hoped for an extended scope. Mr McGinley was unaware of details of his wife's illness that emerged during the trial and believed that her condition had not been properly diagnosed or treated.