Man who killed baby sentenced for stabbing

A man serving a life sentence for the murder of his baby daughter was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court to four years for…

A man serving a life sentence for the murder of his baby daughter was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court to four years for a knife assault on the baby's mother.

Derek Hickey (27) of Penrose House, Newbridge, Co Kildare pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court last month to the charge that on April 30th 2000 in Co Kildare he murdered three month old Leilah Sophie Hickey, his daughter.

He was sentenced to an automatic life imprisonment He also pleaded guilty to a second charge that on the same day he assaulted Sinead Smullen, of the same address, causing her harm.

Baby Leilah, who was three and a half months old, was found stabbed to death at her family home in Penrose House, Newbridge, Co Kildare.

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The discovery was made after her mother, Ms Sinead Smullen, was spotted lying injured on Main Street, Newbridge. Ms Smullen was transferred to Naas General Hospital and later St James' Hospital in Dublin and later recovered from her injuries.

Hickey was arrested and remanded in custody until he was arraigned and pleaded guilty to the murder of his daughter and the assault of his former girlfriend.

In a statement through his counsel, Hickey expressed his "sincere sorrow and regret" for what he had done and apologised "to all affected".