Remembering the children whose deaths were violent

The following are the "nonaccidental" killings of children that have occurred since March last year:

The following are the "nonaccidental" killings of children that have occurred since March last year:

March 2000, Jack Brennan (18 months)

This infant was found dead in a disused quarry outside Drogheda. He had been taken from his bed and was apparently strangled before being weighed down with a brick tied to his neck and thrown into the flooded quarry. A man is before the courts. Judge Flann Brennan ordered that he be sent for psychiatric assessment.

March 2000, Jennifer Palmer (9), Louisa (6) and their mother, Catherine.

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Mrs Palmer drove her family car off the pier at Kinvara, Co Galway, at speed with her two children inside.

April 2000, Leilah Hickey (three months)

A man, no relation of the child, is before the courts charged with murdering a three-month-old girl and with assaulting the baby's mother, 18-year-old Sinead Smullen. The District Court ordered that he undergo a psychiatric assessment.

June 2000, Oisin Reilly-Murphy (18 months)

A 30-year-old man has been returned for trial for the murder of Oisin Reilly-Murphy, who died from stab wounds at his home at Kiltalown, Jobstown, Tallaght. July 2000, Nicole Byrne (five)

A relative is before the courts on a charge of murdering Nicole at the family home at Cromcastle Drive, Coolock, Dublin. It is believed she died from head injuries. July 2000, Adam Lieghio (18 months)

Adam was killed in an arson attack on the home of his grandmother at Buttercup Park, Darndale, Dublin. A man is before the courts charged with murder. No relative was involved.

September 2000, Jonathan Kelly (12)

Jonathan was stabbed while playing near his home in Wicklow town. A nine-year-old boy was questioned by gardai but no charges have been brought. It is believed the killing resulted from a dispute between children who had been playing.

September 2000, Alan Byrne (10), Shane (6), and their mother, Maeve.

Mrs Byrne's husband, Stephen, beat her to death and then collected his children from school. The following day the family car was driven off Duncannon Pier into Waterford Harbour. All three drowned. According to relatives, Mr Byrne had become obsessed with the idea that his wife had been having an affair and was about to leave him.

October 2000, Robert Costello (7)

A 29-year-old woman is before the courts charged with the murder at Mullinavat, Co Kilkenny. Robert's two brothers, Martin (4) and Stephen (20) months, were unhurt.

December 2000, Miriam Burke (nine)

Miriam died when her father, fisherman Michael Burke, drove the family car off the pier at Howth Harbour in Dublin.

April 2001, Nathan Abdi (19 months)

A male relative is before the courts charged with murdering the 19-month-old baby boy at a council house in Clane, Co Kildare. June 2001, Karl Murphy (8)

Karl's body was found in shallow water on the seashore at Greystones. His mother, Ruth, was sitting nearby. The previous evening she had called at her former husband's home in Ashford, Co Wicklow, and taken Karl with her. There was a court order against her preventing access to her son.

July 2001, newborn baby girl

The body of the newborn baby was found in a plastic bag in a green area opposite East Singland Crescent, in the Garryowen area of Limerick.

July 2001, Cillian Fox (7) Trevor Fox (9) and their mother, Debbie

A man has been charged with the murder of 30-yearold Debbie Fox and her sons, Trevor (9) and seven-year-old Cillian. They were beaten and stabbed to death at their home in Castledaly, Co Westmeath.

August 2001, Deirdre Crowley (six)

Deirdre was shot dead by her father, Chris Crowley, who had abducted his daughter from their home in Cork in December 1999 and had refused to return Deirdre to her mother's custody. Mr Crowley killed his child and then committed suicide as gardai approached the house he was renting in Clonmel.