Toddler was murdered by mum's on-off boyfriend in 'cruel and brutal' act

A toddler was murdered in a “gross, cruel, brutal and catastrophic” act by her mother’s on-off partner, a court heard.

Ali Jayden Doyle, two, died from a severe head injury she sustained in a house in the Park Avenue area of Dungannon, Northern Ireland, in August 2021. Darryn John Armstrong, 35, initially blamed her one-year-old brother for causing the fatal wound by throwing a plastic toy at her, claiming it caused her to fall against a fireplace.

Armstrong later admitted that on the morning of August 6, 2021, he had Ali Jayden in his arms and threw the child, who hit her head on the fireplace. He said he was under the influence of cannabis at the time, was “frustrated”, and lost his temper. He admitted murder and in May, was handed a life sentence. But the minimum number of years he must serve before applying for parole has not yet been set.

Ali Jayden's mother Jade Dempsey admitted child cruelty and is yet to be sentenced, . Belfast Crown Court heard the two children had been left in his care by their mother, despite at the time Armstrong being banned from having contact with the youngsters. Dempsey pleaded guilty to wilfully neglecting and exposing Ali Jayden Doyle in a manner likely to cause unnecessary suffering or injury to health on August 6, 2021.

Prosecutor Ciaran Murphy KC said Ali Jayden was murdered some time between 10.45am - when Armstrong sent Dempsey a video on of the toddler sitting on the sofa - and 11.04am when Armstrong called 999 for an ambulance. Mr Murphy said during this timeframe, a neighbour heard the sounds of children “screeching” and “crying”. When the paramedics arrived, Armstrong said Ali Jayden’s brother had thrown a toy at his sister which caused her to fall and hit her head on the fireplace while he was in the toilet.

They were led to a bedroom where they located Ali Jayden who was lying on a bed and covered with a towel with wet hair. Armstrong - who was described by paramedics as ‘frantic’ - said he had to call Dempsey, who arrived a short time later after running back to the scene from the bus stop. He told the paramedics he had thrown a cup of water round Ali Jayden in a bid to rouse her.

She was transferred via ambulance to the Royal Victoria Hospital and arrived, with her mother, at 12.20pm. Despite the best efforts of doctors at the hospital, the child was pronounced dead at 4.20pm and a subsequent post mortem concluded she sustained a severe head injury caused by impact against a solid surface. The court heard those who treated Ali Jayden determined the nature of the fatal head injury was not compatible with Armstrong’s version of how they occurred.

Following his arrest on suspicion of murder, Armstrong reiterated his claim that Ali Jayden has fallen and hit her head after her brother threw a toy at her and denied he caused the injury. He later admitted murder, and in a defence statement compiled in February, Armstrong provided an account that stated he was in the living room with Ali Jayden in arms. Armstrong claimed his came into the room and started ‘going hyper’, the two children ‘started to scream’ and he ‘threw’ Ali Jayden who ‘hit her head on the fireplace’.

The prosecutor said when this statement was shown to Crown experts, one medic noted the severity of head injury and indicated “how he can envisage a scenario whereby the child was perhaps gripped by the torso and then with great force is swung, or slammed, or shaken against an unyielding surface”. The same expert added the impact of the head injury was akin to being sustained in a high-speed traffic accident or a fall from a great height.

Brian McCartney who represented Armstrong, who said his client accepted responsibility for what he did. Describing Armstrong’s upbringing and background as “dysfunctional”, the defence barrister said this included periods in foster care and attending specialist schools. Mr McCartney also spoke of Armstrong’s “long-standing history of abusing both drugs and alcohol”.

Dempsey’s barrister Gavan Duffy KC revealed she had been the victim of domestic abuse in the past and whilst accepting she breached the social service plan which banned Armstrong from having contact with her children, she “relives the consequences” every day. Highlighting the trauma and “life-long” impact she will suffer due to the “murder of her daughter”, Mr Duffy added she has already served a 12-month period on remand.

After listening to the submissions, Mr Justice McAlinden noted both defendants “ignored” the social service Child Protection Plan which resulted in “tragic consequences”. He added he needed time to reflect on what he had heard and would pass sentence at a later date.