A sentence of life imprisonment was imposed yesterday on a 27-year-old Co Kildare man who stabbed his 3 1/2-month-old baby daughter to death.
Derek Hickey, of Penrose House, Newbridge, Co Kildare, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to the charge that on April 30th, 2000, in Co Kildare, he murdered Leilah Sophie Hickey.
He also pleaded guilty to a second charge of assaulting the baby's mother, Ms Sinead Smullen, causing her harm, on the same date.
The infant had been found stabbed to death at her family home in Penrose House, Newbridge.
The discovery was made after her mother was spotted lying stabbed on Main Street, Newbridge, and gardai were alerted.
Ms Smullen clutched a key-ring with two little pictures of her dead daughter as she heard the sentence of life imprisonment being passed on her former boyfriend for the murder.
Mr Justice Carney imposed a mandatory life sentence to be backdated from the day of his arrest, which is yet to be clarified to the court but believed to be April 30th, 2000.
Sentencing for the charge of assault on Ms Smullen will take place on July 13th when evidence on the circumstances of the incident will be presented to the court.