A FORMER Enniskillen man, who admitted murdering a "defenceless" two-year-old girl, tried to pin the blame on the toddler's one-year-old brother. 

A life sentence was handed to Darren John Armstrong (35) yesterday (Wednesday) for the murder of Ali Jayden Doyle, who passed away from head injuries sustained in a house in Park Avenue, Dungannon, in August 2021.

Armstrong initially blamed the toddler's one-year-old brother for causing the fatal wound by throwing a toy at her, but admitted his guilt at a hearing of Belfast Crown Court on Tuesday. 

Mr. Justice O'Hara told Armstrong to expect a long prison sentence. 

At a previous hearing, the court heard how at around 11am on August 6, the NI Ambulance Service were called to the Park Avenue address to a report of an unconscious child.

They found two-year-old Ali unresponsive and high on the coma scale, not reacting to pain or motor response.

Armstrong claimed Ali’s baby brother hit her with a toy, causing her to fall and strike her heard on the fireplace.

While Ali was being rushed to the Royal Victoria Hospital paramedics became concerned about the account given by both Armstrong and the child's mother, Jade Dempsey, whom Armstrong was in an "on-off" relationship with. 

Police and Social Services were subsequently contacted.

Shortly after arriving at hospital, Ali passed away.  Later that night, Armstrong was arrested on suspicion of murder.

The court heard that both Ali and her brother had been placed on the Child Protection Register in April, due to Dempsey being in a relationship with Armstrong.

A port mortem revealed the injury: “More likely to be non-accidental. The injuries are so extensive the pathologist could not say how many times the head had been impacted.  Over 25 years experience the pathologist never seen this level of injury from accidental injury in a child or adult.”

The court also heard how a  neighbour told police that they heard one child screaming and another crying.

“What alerted this person to the screams was the child was not taking a breath. It was a continuous scream,” said a detective.

He added: “We believe both children were distressed and for some reason Armstrong has attacked Ali.”

In court on Tuesday, Armstrong's barrister, Brian McCartney KC, told Mr. Justice O'Hara: "There is an application to have the defendant re-arraigned."

As relatives of the child sat in the public gallery, Armstrong was asked how he pleaded to the murder charge. He replied: "Guilty."

Addressing Armstrong,  Mr. Justice O'Hara said:  "Mr. Armstrong, Ali Jayden Doyle was murdered on the sixth of August, 2021. Your trial was scheduled to start in two weeks' time.

"Initially, you blamed her one-year old brother for throwing a toy which hit her and caused her to suffer fatal and terrible injuries to her head.

"More recently, you admitted that you yourself had thrown her so that she hit her head on the fireplace, and claimed that when you did so, you had lost your temper under the influence of drugs - yet you still denied murder.

"You were not supposed to have any contact at all with Ali or her brother, because Social Services knew you were such a risk to them both. Social Services were absolutely right.

"For murder, the mandatory sentence in this jurisdiction is life imprisonment, and I impose a life sentence on you.

"At a later hearing, I will hear submissions about the minimum period you must serve in prison before the Parole Commissioners decide when you can be released.

"You can expect a long minimum sentence for what you did to a defenceless two-year-old who should never have been left in your care."

Mr. McCartney confirmed he will be seeking reports ahead of sentencing, and told the judge: "The court might be assisted by a psychiatric report."

The defence barrister said there have been "difficulties" arranging consultations in Maghaberry due to Armstrong's "safety status" within the prison - and revealed that earlier this month, Armstrong was "the victim of a vicious beating in which he sustained facial injuries".

Mr. Justice O'Hara was then addressed by Gavan Duffy KC, the barrister representing Jade Dempsey.
The 27-year-old, whose address is the subject of a reporting restriction, has been charged with two offences arising from her daughter's death.

Her barrister said that in light of today's developments, he asked that Dempsey's case be re-listed this Friday.

Mr. Justice O'Hara agreed to this request, and told Armstrong's legal team that he hoped a date for the plea hearing in his case could be set on Friday.

Armstrong was then led from the dock, and returned back into custody by prison staff.