Mother's on-off boyfriend admits murder of toddler

Ali Jayden Doyle died from head injuries in August 2021

A 35-year old man has admitted murdering a "defenceless" two-year-old girl in Dungannon in August 2021.

Ali Jayden Doyle died from head injuries she sustained in a house in the Park Avenue area of the County Tyrone town.

Darryn John Armstrong, whose address was given as HMP Maghaberry, initially pleaded not guilty to the murder charge at a previous court appearance.

On Tuesday his barrister Brian McCartney KC told Mr Justice O'Hara "there is an application to have the defendant re-arraigned".

Handing down the sentence at Belfast Crown Court, Mr Justice O'Hara said: "For murder, the mandatory sentence in this jurisdiction is life imprisonment and I impose a life sentence on you."

Lost temper

Ali Jayden Doyle died on 6 August 2021.

At the time of the her death, Armstrong had been in an on-off relationship with her mother, Jade Dempsey.

Both Armstrong and Ms Dempsey appeared in court in September 2023, where they both denied involvement in her death.

Addressing Armstrong in court, Mr Justice O'Hara outlined how he had initially blamed the toddler's one-year old brother for causing the fatal wound by throwing a toy at her.

"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."

Darryn John Armstrong

Mr Justice O'Hara continued: "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."

Armstrong's defence barrister confirmed he will be seeking reports ahead of sentencing and told the judge "the court might be assisted by a psychiatric report".

He said there have been "difficulties" arranging consultations in Maghaberry due to Armstrong's "safety status" within the prison.

The barrister also revealed that earlier this month Armstrong was "the victim of a vicious beating in which he sustained facial injuries."

Further hearings

Mr Justice O'Hara was then addressed by a 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.

At a previous court hearing, Ms Dempsey was charged with, and denied, causing the death of a child by an unlawful act on 6 August, 2021 and wilfully neglecting and exposing Ali Jayden Doyle in a manner likely to cause unnecessary suffering or injury to health.

Her barrister said that in light of today's developments, he asked that Ms 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.