Man who murdered toddler sentenced to 20 years

Ali Jayden Doyle died from head injuries in August 2021

A man who murdered a toddler by throwing her at a fireplace has been handed a minimum 20-year jail sentence.

Darryn John Armstrong, 35, whose address was given as Maghaberry Prison, admitted throwing two-year-old Ali Jayden Doyle, who subsequently died from a catastrophic head injury.

Her skull had been fractured after she hit a fireplace. Armstrong pleaded guilty to her murder in May this year.

The toddler's mother, Jade Dempsey, was given a three-year probation order after pleading guilty to wilfully neglecting and exposing the little girl to unnecessary suffering and injury.

Darryn John Armstrong admitted to the murder of Ali Jayden Doyle

Ali Jayden died on 6 August 2021 at Armstong’s home in the Park Avenue area of Dungannon.

Dempsey, 28, whose address is the subject of a reporting restriction, had left her two youngest children, Ali and her one year old brother, with Armstrong at the house before setting off to the bus stop to travel to Belfast.

This was in breach of a Child Protection Plan imposed by social services, which banned Armstrong from having contact with the children.

In sentencing Armstrong, Mr Justice McAlinden said that he had not shown "one scintilla of remorse or regret" for his actions.

Jade Dempsey, 28, appeared at Belfast Crown Court

Armstrong initially blamed Ali Jayden's one-year old brother for causing the fatal wound by throwing a plastic toy at her which caused her to fall against a fireplace.

Despite this false version of events, Armstrong subsequently admitted that on the morning of 6 August 2021 he had Ali Jayden in his arms and that he threw the child who hit her head on the fireplace.

He also admitted that he was under the influence of cannabis at the time, was “frustrated” and lost his temper.

As he imposed the minimum term upon Armstrong at a tariff hearing in Belfast Crown Court, Mr Justice McAlinden said he had not expressed any remorse or regret for the "brutal murder" of the child.

Dempsey was made the subject of a three-year probation order on a charge of wilfully neglecting and exposing her daughter in a manner likely to cause unnecessary suffering or injury to health on 6 August 2021.

She was not present when her daughter was killed in Armstrong's County Tyrone home as she was due to travel to Belfast to buy a double-buggy and had left her daughter and son in the care of Armstrong.

This was in breach of a Child Protection Plan imposed by social services which banned Armstrong from having contact with the youngsters.

Imposing the 20-year sentence, Mr Justice McAlinden told Armstrong that the time he has already sent on remand will be taken into account when calculating the date when he is considered eligible for release by the Parole Commissioners.

Ali Jayden's father, Dylan Doyle spoke outside the court on Thursday

'Always in our hearts'

Speaking outside the court on Thursday, Dylan Doyle, Ali Jayden’s father, said: “We as a family will never forget our beautiful little girl Ali. She will always be in our hearts.

"We will never be able to accept that such a beautiful young child can be so cruelly taken away from us."

Detective Chief Inspector Anthony Kelly said Armstrong's "cowardly and sickening actions took an innocent young life."

"He has robbed a young boy of his big sister, and caused unimaginable heartache to a loving father and wider family," he said.

Public Prosecution Service (PPS) Acting Assistant Director Catherine Kierans said that "the callous way in which young Ali's life was taken will have a lasting impact on her loved ones, including her little brother who has been robbed of growing up with his older sister".

"I hope the conclusion of this case will bring some sense of closure to them as they attempt to move forward and rebuild their lives without Ali," she said.