The husband of Deirdre Morley has called for an urgent investigation into his wife’s care by HSE mental health services.
Paediatric nurse Morley, who smothered her three young children at their family home, has been found not guilty of their murders by reason of insanity.
Her husband and father to the children, Andrew McGinley, said: “Today’s verdict is probably the right verdict.
Everyone who knows Deirdre, knows how much she loved our children
“Everyone who knows Deirdre, knows how much she loved our children and how devoted she was to them.
“Whatever the outcome of this trial, it remains that our beloved children Conor, Darragh and Carla have died. As I write this, I’m no closer to understanding why.”
Mr McGinley thanked all those involved in the trial, and everyone who has supported his family over the past year.
Understand
Mr McGinley said he has asked the HSE mental health services for “an inclusive investigation into Deirdre’s diagnosis, treatment and medication prior to this tragedy.”
In a statement, he said: “We ask for this to be conducted as a matter of urgency. This will help us understand the insanity that took the lives of our beloved Conor, Darragh and Carla.
Our exclusion during her treatment has left us with many unanswered questions
“We as a family need to be included in any investigation as our exclusion during her treatment has left us with many unanswered questions.
“We believe that an inclusive investigation can only serve to inform clinicians in their practice and therefore avoid tragedies like ours happening again. We do not want any other family to suffer as we have.
“In the past 20 years over 50 children have died at the hands of one of their parents. Over 60 per cent of those people were known to have had previous contact with psychiatric services.
“However the Mental Health Act 2001 does not go far enough in ensuring that the family support structures for the patient are fully engaged and included by the mental health professionals treating our loved ones.”
Mr McGinley added: “It is too late for us but I do not want to see another grieving parent speaking in the future about the same exclusion after a similar catastrophic loss.
“My message here and now to anyone who has a loved one in psychiatric care is to get in there as soon as you can to be added as an advocate for their treatment plan.”
Celebrate lives
Mr McGinley said he would continue to celebrate the "all too short lives" of his three children.
"Conor had asked me to help him with a YouTube channel and I promised I would. You will find Conor’s Clips on YouTube now," he said.
"I promised to build a snowman for Carla. As we don’t get snow every year I’m planning a colouring competition called Snowman for Carla in her name.
"In Darragh’s name I am starting a charity to encourage everyone to get involved more in their own communities and to participate... As Darragh Did.
"Personally, I will be taking some of the unique characters that Conor and Darragh created in their own comics, plays and books and I will attempt to do them proud by bringing these characters further along in books which I hope to write in their honour."
