Pair charged in connection to toddler's murder refused bail

By Benjamin Cooper, PA

A detective investigating the murder of a two-year-old said they believe the man charged with her death attacked the toddler at a house in Co Tyrone.

Ali Jayden Doyle died from a serious head injury in hospital on August 6.

Darren John Armstrong, 32, and Jade Dempsey, 24, appeared in court in Omagh charged in connection to the death of the toddler.

Armstrong, of Ashbeg Drove in Dungannon, has been charged with Ali's murder and perverting the court of justice.

Ali's mother, Ms Dempsey, who is originally from Dublin, but has an address in Sycamore Drive in Dungannon, has been charged with perverting the court of justice and causing the death of a child by an unlawful act.

The pair, who appeared before Omagh Magistrates Court via video link, were refused bail.

The toddler died on August 6 at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast after she was found unconscious at a house in Park Avenue in Dungannon.

Detective Sergeant James Brannigan told the court that when emergency services arrived at the house, Ali was unresponsive.

The court heard that Armstrong told emergency services that Ali's one-year-old brother had hit her over the head with a toy and that she had fallen against a hearth.

Detective Brannigan said: "On the way to hospital, paramedics became concerned by the account that had been given by both mother and partner about what happened the child and the way the child presented."

"Shortly after arriving at hospital, Ali succumbed to her injuries and Mr Armstrong was arrested for her murder.''

A pathologist stated that the injuries caused to Ali were more likely to be non-accidental than accidental.

"There is no linear mark to indicate a fall on the hearth. The injuries are so extensive they could not say how many times the head had been impacted,'' Detective Brannigan added.

He said: "Over 25 years experience they have never seen this level of injury in a child or adult from an accidental fall and there was no evidence of a previous physical trauma."

He also said that a witness close to the house could hear a child screaming from the address and another child crying.

Judge Bernie Kelly refused bail and both were remanded in custody to appear before Dungannon Magistrates Court on September 1.