"They all just want me to go away quietly" Andrew McGinley calls for law on partner involvement in mental health care

The bodies of their three children - Conor McGinley, nine, Darragh, seven, and three-year-old Carla - were discovered in their home at Parson's Court, Newcastle, Co. Dublin, on January 24, 2020.

Since then, their father, Andrew, has been campaigning for a law to be introduced that allows people to be involved in their partner's mental health treatment, particularly when there are children in the family.

Deirdre, who had been on anti-depressants for two years before the murders, is believed to have hidden the extent of her mental illness from her family. This was revealed during her trial.

Furthermore, detectives were told by Deirdre that she believed that because of her mental illness, this had had a significant effect on her children and that their futures were ruined because of this.

The mum of three was found not guilty by reason of insanity and was acquitted on all three accounts.

The McGinley family.

Speaking to the Irish Independent this week, Andrew told the publication that he has lodged a formal complaint with the DPP on how the trial was handled.

One particular area he has an issue with is the lack of detailed evidence given regarding the "variety and doses of prescription drugs she was taking" leading up to the horrific incident. Different medication was found in the house that day, which included a pack of 30 Xanax pills that were not prescribed to Deirdre.

Andrew told the publication that "Hair follicle toxicology should have been done to determine if Deirdre Morley was long-term misusing these pharmaceuticals that she had."

The father of three is not looking for a retrial but is determined to see a law passed where a spouse can have an involvement in their other half's mental health treatment, when there are children involved. Instead, he believes people are just "burying their heads in the sand."

"They all just want me to go away quietly. How can I do that? I won't do that," he told them.

At the moment, Deirdre is in the care of the Central Mental Hospital and, from time to time, is allowed stay overnight with family members. In time, she will be released.

Evoke understands the DPP was contacted by the Irish Independent, but said they do not comment on individual cases.

* This article was originally published on Evoke.ie.