‘Horrifically Severe Head Injuries’: Man Sentenced for Murder of Two-Year-Old Ali Jayden Doyle

Ali Jayden Doyle, a two-year-old girl from Dungannon, Co Tyrone, suffered “horrifically severe head injuries” at the hands of Darryn John Armstrong, 35, on August 6, 2021. Armstrong, who was convicted of her murder, was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 20 years.

Ali’s mother, Jade Dempsey, 28, pleaded guilty to wilful neglect after leaving Ali and her younger brother with Armstrong, a known domestic abuser, despite a social services child protection plan prohibiting such contact. Armstrong initially attempted to shift blame onto Ali’s sibling, claiming the boy had thrown a toy at Ali, causing her to fall backward and strike her head on a fireplace. Later, he altered his story, stating he could not recall the events due to drug use at the time. In May of this year, Armstrong finally pled guilty to the murder of Ali, leading to his sentencing, reported by Metro.co.uk.

During the hearing, Armstrong sat with his head bowed, covering his ears throughout. Judge Mr Justice McAlinden made it clear that Armstrong showed “not one scintilla” of remorse for his actions, saying, “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.”

Ali’s mother, Jade Dempsey, was also held accountable, pleading guilty to child cruelty. While her breach of the Child Protection Plan warranted a custodial sentence, the judge concluded that additional time in prison would be “utterly futile,” considering her vulnerabilities and the year she had already spent in remand. Instead, she was placed on a probation order to ensure she receives necessary support, counselling, and therapy. Justice McAlinden described her as an “exceptionally vulnerable individual,” emphasizing that the probation order would aid her in addressing her needs.

Outside the court, Ali’s father, Dylan Doyle, expressed the deep pain of losing his daughter, describing the journey to justice as “long and very emotional.” He stated, “We as a family will never forget our beautiful little girl. She will always be in our hearts. We will never be able to accept that such a beautiful young child can be so cruelly taken away from us whilst under the so-called care of Social Services who were meant to protect my daughter.”

Detective Chief Inspector Anthony Kelly of the Police Service of Northern Ireland condemned Armstrong’s actions, remarking, “His cowardly and sickening actions took an innocent young life. He has robbed a young boy of his big sister and caused unimaginable heartache to a loving father and wider family.”