Coward who murdered girl, 2, covers ears as court is told of ‘horrific’ attack

A man who killed his on-off girlfriend’s two-year-old daughter by throwing her against a fireplace after losing his temper has been jailed for at least 20 years.

Ali Jayden Doyle suffered ‘horrifically severe head injuries’ at the hands of Darryn John Armstrong, 35, at a house in Park Avenue in Dungannon, Co Tyrone, on August 6, 2021.

Her mum Jade Dempsey, 28, admitted wilful neglect after leaving Ali and her younger brother with convicted domestic abuser Armstrong in breach of a social services child protection plan.

Armstrong initially tried to blame the sibling for the injuries, saying her had thrown a toy at Ali causing her to fall backwards and bang her head on the fireplace.

He later 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 with a minimum term of 20 years.

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

Judge Mr Justice McAlinden said Armstrong had shown ‘not one scintilla’ of remorse.

He 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.