Publication date:
A 33 year old man has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum tariff of 17 years after admitting the murder of Caoimhe Morgan (30) at her home in north Belfast in December 2021. Taylor McIlvenna pleaded guilty at Belfast Crown Court in January 2024 having previously pleaded not guilty at an arraignment hearing in February 2023.
PPS Senior Public Prosecutor Jenny Burns said: “The post-mortem report indicated that McIlvenna subjected the victim to a violent and horrific attack on the evening of the incident that involved at least 10 blows to her head. McIlvenna then left Ms Morgan’s home and didn’t alert the emergency services to her injuries. She was found the next morning by family members.
“The prosecution team in the PPS Serious Crime Unit worked closely with the Police Service of Northern Ireland, who had carried out a full investigation, to bring McIlvenna before the court and build a robust case against him, resulting in the guilty plea.
“This brutal murder has left Ms Morgan’s family and friends suffering tremendous grief. They have shown great dignity throughout these proceedings and I hope the conclusion of this case will help them to move forward as they continue to try to cope with their loss.”