Minimum 20-year jail term for man who murdered on-off girlfriend's toddler

A man convicted of the murder of his on-off girlfriend's two-year-old girl has been handed a minimum prison term of 20 years.

Ali Jayden Doyle died from severe head injuries inflicted by Darryn John Armstrong, 35, at a house in Park Avenue in Dungannon, Co Tyrone, in August 2021.

Passing sentence at Belfast Crown Court, judge Mr Justice McAlinden said Armstrong, whose address was given as Maghaberry Prison, had not shown "one scintilla of regret or remorse" for his actions.

Armstrong sat in the dock with his head bowed, with his hands covering his ears for most of the sentence hearing.

At the same hearing, the youngster's mother Jade Dempsey, 28, was given a three-year probation order having admitted a charge of wilful neglect of her daughter.

Dempsey, whose address cannot be reported for legal reasons, wept as she confirmed she would accept the terms of the order.

Dempsey had left her two young children in the care of Armstrong on the morning of the murder on August 6, 2021, as she planned to travel to Belfast to buy a buggy.

That was in contravention of a Child Protection Plan put in place by Social Services that stipulated Armstrong, who had history of significant offending - including for domestic abuse, should have no contact with the children.

Armstrong initially claimed that Ali Jayden's younger brother had thrown a toy at her, causing her to lose her balance and fall back and hit her head on the fireplace.

He later admitted to throwing the toddler against the fireplace having lost his temper.

Armstrong further changed his story to claim he had no recollection of what happened in the house, as he was under the influence of drugs at the time.

However, he plead guilty to murder in May this year and was given an automatic life sentence.

The 20-year minimum tariff will factor in the three years he has already served in custody ahead of sentencing.

Passing sentence on Thursday, the judge said: "We will never know what precisely occurred in that house that morning, but it is clear beyond doubt that Darryn Armstrong took that child and inflicted horrifically severe head injuries to her.

"The extent of the force required to cause those injuries to a two-year-old child is entirely consistent with an intention to kill that child, to murder her."

Dempsey pleaded guilty to a child cruelty charge in May, namely that she wilfully neglected and exposed Ali Jayden in a manner likely to cause unnecessary suffering or injury.

Justice McAlinden said while her "flouting" of the Child Protection Plan reached the threshold for a custodial sentence, he said sending her back to prison - she has already spent a year in custody on remand - would be "utterly futile".

Describing her as an "exceptionally vulnerable individual", he said the probation order would ensure she availed of the support, counselling and therapy she needed.

Outside court, Ali Jayden's father Dylan Doyle said it had been a "long and very emotional" journey to secure justice.

"We as a family will never forget our beautiful little girl," he said.

"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 whilst under the so-called care of Social Services who were meant to protect my daughter."

During his sentencing remarks, Justice McAlinden said he was "dismayed" by Dempsey's attempt to "shift responsibility" onto Social Services, rejecting her claim that they did not give her sufficient warnings about Armstrong.

"It is abundantly obvious that she chose to disregard the ample and comprehensive warnings given to her," he said.

The judge said she had also lied to Social Services about the nature and extent of contact which she and her children had with Armstrong in the lead up to August 6, 2021.

Police Service of Northern Ireland Detective Chief Inspector Anthony Kelly gave his reaction to Armstrong's sentence outside court.

"His cowardly and sickening actions took an innocent young life," he said.

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

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