Mum jailed for eight years for allowing son, 2, to die as evil boyfriend battered him two days after second birthday
A MUM has been jailed for allowing her son to die as her monster boyfriend battered him two days after his second birthday. Keigan O’Brien’s mum, Sarah O’Brien, 33, was cleared of murder but found guilty of causing or allowing the death of a child and child cruelty. The youngster passed away in January after […]
A MUM has been jailed for allowing her son to die as her monster boyfriend battered him two days after his second birthday.
Keigan O’Brien’s mum, Sarah O’Brien, 33, was cleared of murder but found guilty of causing or allowing the death of a child and child cruelty.
The youngster passed away in January after going into cardio-respiratory arrest and suffering irreversible brain damage.
A court heard it was likely Keigan’s catastrophic injuries were inflicted by his head being thrown against a wall or the floor.
His killer Martin Currie, 36, had grabbed his phone and searched “irregular breathing”, “gurgling” and “unconscious” instead of phoning for help.
He and Keigan’s mum finally dialled 999 two hours later but it was too late.
She was today caged for eight years at Sheffield Crown Court, while Currie was locked up for 22 years.
Sentencing, Judge Eady said O’Brien “must have known” about the risk Currie posed to her son.
But she accepted the mum had “low self-esteem” and was “vulnerable to the affections” of Currie.
CHILD KILLER
Jurors heard Keigan had suffered a broken spine, broken ribs, black eyes and a broken arm due to twisting in the weeks leading up to his death.
His blood was also found on his high chair, on a wall, and on Currie’s clothing at the family home in Doncaster, South Yorks.
Neither Currie or O’Brien sought medical help for the injuries Keigan suffered before he was rushed to hospital on January 8.
The pair, who had only been dating for six months, referred to Keigan as “w***stain” and “s***head”.
Currie inflicted fatal injuries on the defenceless little boy, and O’Brien took no steps to protect her child
And on one occasion Currie was seen man-handling Keigan before yelling: “Stop moaning, you little bastard.”
Following the verdicts, Keigan’s father said: “Keigan was such a special little boy. He was loveable, playful, energetic and full of fun.
“He will always have a place in our hearts and will be missed terribly. He will never be forgotten and we are truly heartbroken.”
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Detective Chief Inspector James Axe, of South Yorkshire Police, welcomed the verdicts.
He said: “The only two people responsible for Keigan’s death are O’Brien and Currie, two people who should have loved and cared for him.
“In fact, they should have been the very people who protected little Keigan above all else.”
