A woman has pleaded guilty to the infanticide of her infant son and the attempted murder of his toddler sister. The mother had previously been convicted of these charges in 2023, but her convictions were later ruled unsafe by the Court of Appeal in December 2025, leading to an ordered retrial.
In July 2021, the woman stabbed both children in their home. They were subsequently taken to the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children, where the daughter received successful treatment. However, the infant son was pronounced dead.
The identity of the woman is protected by an anonymity order. During a hearing at Belfast High Court on Thursday, she entered guilty pleas to both charges. Infanticide is defined as the unlawful killing of a child under 12 months by its biological mother when the mother's mental state is disturbed.
Prosecutors indicated that the case has a complex history, but substantial material is available for the court. Mr. Justice Stephen Fowler stated his intention to proceed with the case efficiently. The court has adjourned the proceedings until the end of August, at which point the woman is scheduled to be sentenced.