Tegan McGhee, aged 32, has been revealed as the stepmother responsible for the tragic death of four-year-old Mason O’Connell Conway. The court has now allowed the disclosure of her identity following her sentencing by Mr. Justice Paul McDermott to life imprisonment for the murder of Mason in Rathbane, Limerick city on March 16, 2021.
Alongside McGhee, the boy’s father, John Paul O’Connell, aged 36, received a seven-year prison term after admitting to endangerment, neglect, and obstructing justice in connection with Mason’s death. The incident occurred at a residence they shared in Rathbane, Limerick City.
Mason was discovered with severe injuries on March 13, 2021, at their home and succumbed to his injuries three days later. The court also sentenced McGhee to four years and six months for child cruelty offenses leading up to the fatal incident.
In a heartbreaking turn of events, medical reports revealed that Mason had endured prolonged abuse and suffered fatal injuries inflicted by his stepmother. The child’s mother, Elizabeth Conway, expressed her profound grief and described Mason as a loving and caring child who brought immense joy to their lives.
Elizabeth recalled the painful moment when doctors informed her that there was no hope for Mason’s recovery, leading her to make the devastating decision to switch off his life support. She recounted the agonizing experience of witnessing her son’s final moments as his heartbeat faded away, a moment tainted by the betrayal of trust by the individuals he loved.
The family mourns the loss of Mason, a vibrant and compassionate soul whose life was cut short by what his mother described as an act of “pure evil.”