Man jailed for murdering on-off girlfriend’s two-year-old daughter

A man convicted of the murder of his on-off girlfriend’s two-year-old girl has been handed a minimum prison term of 20 years.

Ali Jayden Doyle died from severe head injuries inflicted by Darryn John Armstrong (35) at a house in Park Avenue in Dungannon, Co Tyrone, in August 2021.

Passing sentence at Belfast Crown Court, judge Mr Justice McAlinden said Armstrong, whose address was given as Maghaberry Prison, had not shown “one scintilla of regret or remorse” for his actions.

Armstrong sat in the dock with his head bowed, with his hands covering his ears for most of the sentence hearing.

At the same hearing, the youngster’s mother Jade Dempsey (28) was given a three-year probation order having admitted a charge of wilful neglect of her daughter.

Dempsey, whose address cannot be reported for legal reasons, wept as she confirmed she would accept the terms of the order.

Dempsey had left her two young children in the care of Armstrong on the morning of the murder on August 6th,…