A WOMAN WHO killed her children in 2020 has argued that a coroner’s decision to limit the evidence relating to her mental health before the tragic event was “irrational and unreasonable”.

Deirdre Morley, who was a paediatric nurse, killed her children, Conor (9), Darragh (7) and three-year-old Carla McGinley, at their home in Newcastle, Co Dublin in 2020. A postmortem showed the three young siblings had all died from suffocation.

Morley was found not guilty of murder by reason of insanity in 2021 following a trial.

Morley took judicial review over Dublin District Coroner Dr Myra Cullinane’s decision not to have medical professionals who treated the mother in the six months before the killings give evidence about her mental state at the inquest into the children’s deaths.

Morley, defended by Fiona Gallagher BL, today argued that the inquest needed this evidence, rather than relying on two forensic consultants who had also given evidence at her criminal trial.

Gallagher said that evidence relating to Morley’s admission to St Patrick’s Hospital in Dublin and treatment by mental health professionals in Clondalkin and Tallaght, as well as her GP, should have been considered.

“[The coroner] acted irrationally by unduly limiting the evidence to be heard,” the barrister said.

Mr Justice Garrett Simons suggested the decision relating to evidence was a matter “within the discretion” of the coroner.

“This court doesn’t micromanage the decisions of the coroner,” he said, adding that is what Morley’s legal team is asking him to do.

The judge reiterated that it is the coroner’s duty to decide if evidence is admissible rather than his court, however, he granted Morley’s legal team permission to notify the other party that they are applying for review.

The case is to come before the courts again on 10 February.