A 27-year-old man serving a life sentence for the murder of his baby daughter was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court yesterday by Mr Justice Carney to four years for a knife assault on the baby's mother.
Derek Hickey, of Penrose House, Newbridge, Co Kildare, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court last month that on April 30th, 2000, in Co Kildare, he murdered three-month-old Leilah Sophie Hickey, his daughter. He was sentenced to life imprisonment.
He pleaded guilty to a second charge that on the April 30th, 2000, in Co Kildare, he assaulted Ms Sinead Smullen, of the same address, causing her harm. Three-month-old baby Leilah had been found stabbed to death at her family home in Penrose House, Newbridge. The discovery was made after her mother, Ms Sinead Smullen, was spotted lying injured on Main Street, Newbridge, and gardai were alerted. Ms Smullen was transferred to Naas General Hospital and later to St James's Hospital, Dublin. Hickey was arrested and remanded in custody. Following a Garda investigation, Hickey made a number of statements, in which he admitted that on the night of the assault and killing he and his then partner were arguing. Hickey said Ms Smullen had threatened to take herself and the baby to her parents' house but Hickey protested.