A former nurse who murdered one son and tried to kill another has been told she will spend the next 20 years of her life in jail before being considered for release.
The 42-year old Co Antrim woman, who can't be named due to a reporting restriction, displayed no emotion as the tariff was set at Belfast Crown Court.
As she imposed the sentence, Judge Patricia Smyth branded what happened on the morning of March 2, 2020 as a "savage attack with a knife" which would have caused both children "severe pain and distress."
The double stabbing occurred at the family home on the outskirts of Larne and claimed the life of the defendant's young son who was aged two years and eight months and who was stabbed in the neck and chest.
Also attacked was her 11-month also baby who - as Judge Smyth noted - sustained similar injuries and who would also have died had it not been for the immediate intervention of the police and emergency services.
Prior to stabbing both her young sons in a bedroom, the defendant phoned her partner at work around 8.50am and asked if they could talk.
He said he was busy and they would talk later, but she texted him again shortly afterwards and said 'I'm sorry.' Six minutes later, she sent another text to her partner saying 'I've killed the boys. I'm dying.'
Her partner called an ambulance and rushed home to be greeted by what Judge Smyth described as "a scene of horror."
He discovered one son dead in the blood-soaked bedroom along with his severely injured baby son and the defendant, who had inflicted knife wounds upon herself.
The court heard that before she stabbed her young son, the defendant had placed morphine patches on their bodies.
She also left a series of notes blaming her partner for her actions. One note said "I am doing this to hurt the ones who have hurt me and the one who is continuing to hurt me."
Another said: "I'm taking my kids with me because I can't leave them with their father."
During yesterday's sentencing, Judge Smyth made it clear that despite the defendant's claims that she was a victim in an abusive relationship, there was an "abundance of evidence" that it was in fact the defendant who "exercised coercion and control" in the relationship.
This evidence, the Judge revealed, came from both video footage which captured her being aggressive and abusive in the family setting, and also statements from her former husband and two older children which detailed domestic abuse.
When she was arrested and questioned about the murder of her son and the attempted murder of his baby brother, the defendant claimed to have no memory of what happened.
Following her arrest, she was transferred to the Shannon Clinic for a mental health assessment.
Whilst in the secure psychiatric unit, the defendant questioned other patients about symptoms of mental illness then proceeded to fabricate psychotic symptoms - and at one point claiming aliens had taken her children via a portal.
Diagnosed with a borderline personality disorder, she was returned back to prison, where she will remain for a minimum of 20 years.
Judge Smyth said she had taken into account the defendant's personality disorder "but only in a limited way."
The Belfast Recorder noted that since the fatal stabbing and despite her guilty pleas, the defendant has refused to talk about what happened with police, medics and probation and has shown no remorse.
She added that whilst the 11-month old son survived the knife attack, it is clear from the nature of the stab wounds there was an intention by his mother to kill him.
The Judge said that after reading a Victim Impact Statement made by the boys father, it was obvious every aspect of this life has been affected.
She said he has "lost one beautiful son" and is now raising his surviving son and protecting him as best he can from the damage inflicted by the defendant.
Citing multiple aggravating factors - including the breach of trust involved and the particular vulnerability of the children - the Judge branded the case as "especially grave" and described the knife attack as "savage."
Judge Smyth set the tariff as 20 years and told the defendant - who attended via a videolink with Hydebank - this is the minimum term she will spend in jail before she is considered eligible for release by the Paroles Commission.
A restraining order for an indefinite period was also imposed which bans the defendant from making contact with her two former partners and three children.
Speaking outside the Laganside Court Complex in Belfast, Detective Inspector Michelle Griffin urged victims of domestic abuse to contact the PSNI.
The policewoman said the case was "will never be forgotten" and has left a father and family "distraught and truly heartbroken."
Reacting to the sentencing, she said: "The woman, who I cannot name in order to protect the children's identity, was sentenced to 20 years, having previously pleaded guilty to the murder of her young son and the attempted murder of her baby boy.
"This deeply distressing case has left a lasting impact on all those witnesses involved as well as for the emergency services and other agencies involved who will never be able to forget the events of that day."
The policewoman said the case raised the issue of domestic abuse and revealed that throughout, the children's father as well as a previous husband of the defendant spoke of emotional abuse and her controlling behaviour.
She added: "Domestic abuse is not just physical. It can happen to anyone and there shouldn't be any stigma surrounding male victims.
"I want to encourage anyone who is being threatened, abused, controlled or intimidated by someone they live with, or are in a relationship with, to come forward."
