Man Jailed For Causing Three Year-Old's Death

A man has been sentenced to fifteen years imprisonment for causing the death of a three year-old boy in his care.

Kayden McMcGuiness died in September 2017 after Liam Whoriskey inflicted brutal injuries on him, including a large number of bruises and bleeding over the surface of his brain.

At the time of the attack, which occurred when the little boy's mother was out at a family gathering, Kayden was being assessed for suspected autism.

Liam Whoriskey from L'Derry was sentenced to 13 years' imprisonment for the offence of manslaughter and two years' imprisonment for a child cruelty offence, to run consecutively. Half of the sentence is to be served in prison and half to be served on licence.

The sentence was handed down at Londonderry Crown Court earlier today, Monday 16 December.

Police have welcomed the sentencing and once again condemned the actions of Mr Whoriskey, who they believe has shown no remorse since causing the three year-old's death.

Detective Inspector Peter McKenna said: "Nothing will ever take away the pain felt by Kayden's family and as we approach Christmas time, this will be even more difficult for them. Their lives have been destroyed and Kayden's parents have had their beautiful little boy cruelly taken away from them in the worst way imaginable.

"Kayden's little sister was just five months old when her little brother died and she has to grow up without her big brother. Whoriskey's actions meant that she never got the chance to properly know him.

"On the night Kayden died, his Mother Erin was attending a family gathering. She left the house late, as she always put her children to bed and tucked them in and this night was to be no different. As she left, she gave her little boy three kisses and told him how much she loved him. Having met the whole family, I know that this was how they all felt about Kayden – they all doted on him."

Detective Inspector McKenna continued: "Throughout this, Whoriskey has shown no remorse. At the time of Kayden's death, he was being assessed for Autism. Whoriskey would have known that this three year old child, already vulnerable by his age and with some communication difficulties, would never have been able to explain what happened to him had he survived. Whoriskey's attack left Kayden with a number of injuries including a large number of bruises and bleeding over the surface of his brain. When he was questioned about Kayden's injuries by police, Whoriskey denied causing them. It clearly did not weigh on his conscience that he had savagely taken the life of a three year old.

"Whilst I stand here today and condemn Whoriskey for his despicable actions, I do not want that to be the final word that people remember. I want people to remember the little boy who, in his family's words, was a smiling, happy and loveable child."



(JG/CM)