The mother of a murdered 3 1/2-month-old baby spoke yesterday of her relief after her former boyfriend, Derek Hickey (27), from Newbridge, Co Kildare, was sentenced to life imprisonment.
The baby, Leilah Sophie Hickey, had been found stabbed to death at her family home, Penrose House, Newbridge, Co Kildare. The discovery was made after the baby's mother, Sinead Smullen, was found lying on the main street of Newbridge with stab wounds.
Speaking outside the Central Criminal Court after Hickey had been sentenced and led away, Sinead Smullen told reporters that she was "delighted" with the outcome of the case.
"I'm delighted now with today's results, I really am", she said. "It's what I'd hoped for. He's going to get now what he deserves, and hopefully a lot more to it than that."
John and Margaret Smullen, the grandparents of the murdered baby, were in court for the sentencing and said they were glad "to see justice done".
Mr John Smullen said: "She [the baby girl] was stabbed to death by Derek Hickey and it was an absolutely terrible thing to happen. Sinead herself was left badly scarred. She was stabbed in the back and in the neck as well. She is very lucky to be alive.
"He [Hickey] got what he deserved today and probably not enough. He got a life sentence and he is to come back again for another part of the case.
"We are very delighted with the work and the advice we got from the gardai. So we're delighted with the verdict."
Mrs Margaret Smullen said that she missed her baby granddaughter and was pleased with the automatic life sentence for murder.
"I still miss her, of course, but I'm glad he got his just deserts", Mrs Smullen said. "He deserves everything he gets. He took an innocent little baby's life, my grand-daughter Leilah's life. It's disgraceful. He just got today what he deserves and I'm delighted."