Mother jailed for life over tragic murder of her two young children in Co Westmeath
Heartbreaking crime rocks Rathowen community
Lynn Eagar, 49, has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the chilling murder of her two young children, five-year-old Thelma Dennany and her two-year-old brother Michael. The quiet whisper of her guilty plea offered little solace after the devastating case.
Children trapped in burning car
The horror unfolded last September 9 in Lackan, Multyfarnham, when Eagar set fire to the car with the children inside. A passer-by heroically pulled Lynn from the blaze, suffering only minor burns, but tragically the children were not saved.
Father’s gut-wrenching statement read in court
At the Central Criminal Court, Detective Inspector Thomas Quinn read aloud a statement from Michael Dennany, the children’s father. He recalled the “immense joy” Thelma and Michael brought him, describing the unforgettable moments of their births.
Michael had planned a joyful afternoon collecting chestnuts with his kids – a simple pleasure they never got to share. Now, his home lies empty and silent, filled instead with unbearable grief and regret. “I had hoped to see them grow up, go to school, and maybe even get married,” he said, heartbreakingly. His only comfort is knowing the siblings are together forever.
Sentencing and remorse
Eagar expressed sorrow in a letter read by her barrister, Sean Gillane SC, apologising for the “pain, horror and suffering” she caused. She admitted there were other choices she could have made and said she is filled with regret.
Judge Paul McDermott handed down a life sentence for each murder, extending his condolences to the devastated families and everyone touched by the tragedy.
