A twisted dad who was today convicted of killing his own two children after he used them as pawns for attention - lapping up the media interest over their deaths.
Jordan Monaghan, 30, has been ordered to serve a minimum of 40 years behind bars for the murders of his newborn baby girl Ruby and toddler son Logan by smothering, and six years later killing his new partner with a drug overdose.
The "cruel and selfish" dad lapped up sympathy and media attention in the wake of the sudden deaths - when he had actually obstructed the airways of both his helpless children in separate murders in January and August 2013, in Blackburn.
He was eventually arrested in 2018 after further information came to light when police reviewed the deaths of Ruby, aged 24 days at the family home in Blackburn, and Logan, aged 21 months, at Waves waterpark in Blackburn.
The triple murderer then killed his girlfriend Evie Adams, 23, in October 2019, while out on bail for his children's deaths, Yorkshire live reports.
Monaghan undertook this crime when his partner attempted to leave him, the court heard.
During a 10-week trial, jurors were told Monagan had been in a relationship with the children's mum Laura Gray since they were teenagers, but despite earning a good wage as a construction worker he would gamble the money away, causing tension in their relationship.
Both pregnancies were unremarkable and the children appeared to be developing normally, only visiting the doctors for routine childhood illnesses, such as an eye infection or a common cold.
But as the cracks in the couple's relationship began to show, the children suffered a series of sudden collapses - each time while being looked after alone by Monaghan.
Tragically, in 2013, both babies died at the hands of their father, after he smothered them in an attempt to win back the affections of their heartbroken mum.
September 23, 2012
Laura Gray told Monaghan their relationship was over because of issues over money. That day Logan was rushed to hospital with a suspected paracetamol overdose after Monaghan claimed he found a packet with some tablets missing close to where Logan was playing. Laura rushed home from a shopping trip to be with her son. No evidence of any overdose was found at the hospital.
December 29, 2012
Jordan Monaghan called emergency services to report Ruby was struggling to breathe and had developed a blue tinge to her lips. She was taken to hospital where initial assessments concluded the baby had experienced a temporary pause in her breathing. She remained with her mother for two nights and her condition improved.
December 31, 2012
Ruby was discharged from hospital with no concerns.
Paediatric consultant Dr Balmer said her symptoms were consistent with early bronchiolitis, a common condition in babies during the winter months.
January 1, 2013
Emergency services rushed to New Chapel Street after reports Ruby had collapsed while being looked after by her father. Ruby was taken to Royal Blackburn Hospital but was tragically pronounced dead.
When Jordan Monaghan arrived at the hospital, Laura Gray broke the news that Ruby had died. He replied: "I know."
He later said a nurse had broken the news over the phone, but this was against hospital protocol and no record could be found of that call.
January 8, 2013
Pathologist Dr Bitetti conducted a post mortem on Ruby and concluded her death was caused by acute bronchopneumonia. No suspicious circumstances were found.
July 26, 2013
Laura Gray told Monaghan she wanted to end the relationship over tensions about money and Monaghan's gambling.
July 27, 2013
Laura received a call from Monaghan while she was out shopping, telling her 'Logan's collapsed'. She rushed home to find her son clammy and not really moving.
Monaghan called an ambulance and Logan was taken to hospital, where he was found to be normal, but with a slightly raised heart rate. He was kept for observations and discharged the following day with no concerns.
Laura considered her relationship with Monaghan to be over, but he persuaded her to give things another try.
August 16, 2013
Laura Gray discovered a letter from a credit card company which showed Monaghan had run up a £2,000 debt. They argued over money and it emerged Monaghan had not paid the rent. Laura slept separately from Monaghan that night.
August 17, 2013, morning
Monaghan said he would take Logan to the park and his mother's house while Laura had a lie in. Logan appeared healthy.
Unbeknownst to Monaghan, his partner followed him when he went out and caught him withdrawing £300 from a cash machine. She took hold of the buggy and told him "we're done, I'm sick of this" and started to walk away as Monaghan pleaded with her to continue the relationship.
August 17, 2013, afternoon
Monaghan pushed Logan into the reception area of Waves swim centre and paid for a swim. They went to the changing rooms but left a few minutes later, without entering the pool. They returned to New Chapel Street where Monaghan pushed the buggy into the dining room, telling Laura Logan was asleep. The baby had his hood up and a blanket over him. The rain cover was over the pram.
August 17, 2013, afternoon
Monaghan persuaded Laura to let him stay for tea. He asked Laura to wake Logan while he went to the shop. When he returned, Laura had not checked the buggy. Monaghan went out to get food and received a call from Laura who was crying and saying Logan was not breathing. She instinctively knew her little boy was dead.
August 19, 2013
Home Office pathologist Dr Naomi Carter carried out a post-mortem which proved inconclusive. There was no sign of any injury, however, Logan's brain was swollen and enlarged.
One possible explanation was that he had suffered 'imposed airway obstruction' - his breathing had been stopped by someone else.
September 19, 2016
Logan's death had brought Monaghan and his partner closer, however, problems over money carried on. Laura sent Monaghan a text telling him she wanted to end the relationship.
September 27, 2016
Another child collapsed while in the care of Monaghan. The child was taken to hospital but discharged the same day with no medical issues apart from a slight cough.
October 1, 2016
Laura Gray and a friend went to pack Monaghan's bags. He was looking after a child at a friend's house when he called Laura to tell her the tot had collapsed. The child was taken to hospital and found to have a cold, but that could not explain the sudden episode.
October 2 - 11, 2016
While in hospital the child underwent extensive testing to try to ascertain the causes of the collapses. Specialists were unable to find any natural cause for the sudden episodes and concluded it was highly likely the child had suffered 'acute airway obstruction.'
Review of Ruby and Logan's deaths
A review of all the evidence and circumstances around the deaths of Ruby and Logan was then ordered.
The doctors said the extent of Ruby's bronchopneumonia was considerably less than is often found in babies who have died. Taken in isolation it could explain Ruby's death but taken together with the death of Logan and the collapses of the third child, a more likely explanation was acute airway obstruction.
Regarding Logan's death, the experts said for a baby over a year old to die suddenly was rare and for a child to die sitting up in a pushchair was "extremely unusual." No natural causes were found however asphyxiation was 'a strong contender.'
January 2018
Police launch a murder investigation into the deaths of Ruby and Logan and the sudden collapse of the third child.
April 13 and 14, 2018
Monaghan is interviewed by police in respect of the deaths of Ruby and Logan and the collapse of the third child. He stated his relationship with Laura was "good most of the time" and said he did not know what caused the children to become so poorly. He was released under investigation.
January 20, 2021
Jordan Monaghan is charged with the murders of Ruby and Logan, the attempted murder of the third child and the murder of his partner Evie Adams.
