Deirdre Morley, who smothered her three young children at their family home and was found not guilty of their murders by reason of insanity, has been committed to the Central Mental Hospital.
A Central Criminal Court judge made the order yesterday, nearly three weeks after the trial of the 44-year-old highly trained paediatric nurse.
Mr Justice Paul Coffey said he was satisfied Ms Morley continues to suffer from a mental disorder and is in need of inpatient care.
Ms Morley, of Parson’s Court, Newcastle, Co Dublin, had pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the murder of her sons, nine-year-old Conor McGinley and seven-year-old Darragh McGinley and her three-year-old daughter Carla McGinley.
The children’s bodies were discovered at the family home just before 8pm on January 24 last year.
On May 20, a jury accepted the evidence given by two psychiatrists that the accused, who specialised in renal care at Our Lady’s Hospital in Crumlin, was suffering from a mental disorder at the time of the three killings and fulfilled the criteria for the special verdicts.
The two consultant forensic psychiatrists called as expert witnesses both agreed the accused was unable to appreciate what she had done was morally wrong and was unable to refrain from her actions.
Following the verdicts, Ms Morley was committed to the CMH in Dundrum until May 31 so that an approved medical officer could prepare a psychiatric assessment.
The matter was back before the court yesterday, where the court heard both sides had read it the report.
Ms Morley, who did not speak during the hearing, appeared via video-link from the CMH.
Consultant forensic psychiatrist Dr Ronan Mullaney from the CMH, who conducted the examination on Ms Morley, also appeared on the video-link for the brief hearing at the Central Criminal Court.
Mr Justice Coffey said: “I’ve received and considered the report of approved medical officer Dr Ronan Mullaney including his findings,” he said.
The judge then made an order committing her to the CMH for further inpatient care under the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act.
Under the Act, Ms Morley’s condition will be reviewed every six months by the Mental Health Review Board.
Ms Morley’s three-day trial heard that the accused had unsuccessfully attempted to drug her three children on the day before they were killed, having formulated a plan to then suffocate them in their sleep.
The next day, she smothered the three children at different times by covering their heads with plastic bags.
After returning from an overnight work trip in Cork, the accused’s husband Andrew McGinley found his wife unconscious and being cared for by paramedics in the estate.
He then discovered the bodies of his three children in the house.
An expert witness said the defendant believed it was morally right to smother her three children as she thought she had “irreparably damaged” them and “had to put an end to their suffering”.
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