THE mother of an 11 year old boy stabbed to death by a relative, told a court today that her “beautiful boy” was “taken by the hands of evil”.
The boy’s body was found in a house after he had been struck with a hammer and stabbed 27 times by his half-uncle, a man he knew and trusted.
The victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was found with defensive wounds on his arms, indicating he had desperately tried to defend himself during the frenzied attack.
Speaking after today’s hearing, the boy’s mother reiterated calls she made in the Limerick Post and other newspapers prior to the sentencing, for the Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee, to fast-track plans to overturn Section Section 252 of the Childcare Act which makes it an offence to publish anything that could identify a child who is an alleged victim of a criminal offence, even after the child has died.
“I want to appeal to Justice Minister, Helen McEntee, to change this law. I deserve to be able to leave this court today and to tell the world the wonderful, kind, caring, loving, talented little boy my son is – his name and his legacy deserve to be out there for all the world to see and hear,” the woman told reporters outside the Central Criminal Court.
Today, the killer, who also cannot be named in order to protect the boy’s identity, was sentenced to life in prison after he had pleaded guilty to the murder.
He said he had stabbed the boy to death because a voice in his head told him to do it.
In an emotional victim impact statement, the boy’s devastated mother said she wanted her “little boy to be remembered as a kind, funny, loving, protecting, entertaining character” and not for “the evil act that took his life.”
“I gave birth to the most beautiful boy with his beautiful big brown eyes, we fell madly in love instantly, a love I had never felt or experienced before – (son’s name) made me complete.”
“With his big brown eyes, and radiant smile, (son’s name) was a happy, friendly, confident little boy, a natural entertainer, who left a lasting impression on everyone he met, he loved to dance, so much so he was dancing as a baby before he even walked.”
The victim was “full of love and adored his family, and loved animals, he wanted to be a vet, but had changed his mind when he realised he would be around animals that were hurt”.
“He would stop people on the street and play with their dogs, he would call to a neighbour to walk her dog and she was so thankful for this and always praised him to me for being such a kind, loving child.”
The mother said she taught her son about “loyalty” and “how the family unit was so important”, but that this loyalty was torn apart by her half-brother, “when my precious son’s life was taken by the hands of evil”.
She said she discovered the existence of her half-brother when she was 12 years old. She had treated him “like a baby brother”, and took him on “trips to Santa, the seaside, and even went to see him in hospital when he was sick”.
“I brought this man into my son’s life, my son and I trusted him and loved him. (Son’s name) felt safe when he was with his family, it was what I had taught him; That man took all that, he broke (son’s name’s) trust, he broke my trust, he took his innocence.”
“To think of how afraid my son must have been in his final moments will haunt me for the rest of my life. My son was left alone in a strange house while his murderer walked out and left him dead; how anyone could have so much evil in them, I will never understand.”
The devastated mother said: “This act of evil will have an everlasting effect on me, (son’s name’s) family, his friends, his teachers, and the whole community.”
The mother said she and her cherished son had been inseparable throughout his short life, enjoying sports fitness and kickboxing classes together, “we made the perfect team”.
“He would be turning into a teenager this year and starting secondary school, he would also have been getting his confirmation, but we will never get to see him graduate, get married, or have children; I have been robbed of my son and grandchildren.”
“I now wake up every morning with unbearable pain, instead of waking up to my beautiful boy with his big brown eyes. I now suffer severe anxiety and panic attacks, since I lost (son’s name) I can’t trust people, I live in fear.”
“I will never again get to stand at his school gate and be met with his big beaming smile. (Son’s name) filled our home with light, love, and laughter, but that is now gone.”
“Now we are just left with memories, now we are left with a life sentence.”
A spokesman for Minister McEntee said: “Minister McEntee is committed to addressing the main issues of concern arising out of the interpretation of Section 252 of the Children Act 2001 by the Court of Appeal, and was canvassing legal advices on “how best to resolve the issues arising from the decision of the Court of Appeal”.
“Detailed discussions are ongoing, on how this can be done as quickly as possible. Consideration will also have to be given to any changes to ensure they do not result in unintended consequences and are consistent with the key principle of the best interests of the child.”
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