A man who murdered his partner after carrying out “a vicious and frenzied attack” on the mother-of-four will spend at least 17 years behind bars before being considered for release.
Taylor McIlvenna (32), who had 47 previous convictions including for assault, was sentenced on Wednesday at Belfast Crown Court for the “senseless and shocking act of violence” that left Caoimhe Morgan dead.
The 30-year-old mother-of-four’s lifeless body was discovered at her Harcourt Drive home in the Oldpark area of north Belfast on December 18, 2021.
The court heard that one of her young children was found beside the body of his murdered mother.
Police have described the fatal attack as a “shocking and senseless act of violence” and have released chilling doorbell footage from a neighbour’s property, showing McIlvenna entering his victim’s home before leaving again less than two minutes later, having left her dying on a bedroom floor.
McIlvenna, from Highvale Gardens in Belfast, had been handed a life sentence in January after pleading guilty to Ms Morgan’s murder.
He had initially denied the murder before changing his plea to guilty.
The brutal attack by McIlvenna left his victim with “sustained multiple injuries” to her head.
Two of Ms Morgan’s four children were in the property when the attack occurred.
The court heard how McIlvenna - who did not live with Ms Morgan - had subjected his partner to domestic violence during their six-year relationship.
A PSNI spokesperson said following Wednesday’s sentencing that McIlvenna stole Ms Morgan’s phone and sent texts to her loved ones in a bid to cover up his tracks following the attack.
The doorbell footage released by police shows a hooded McIlvenna arriving at his victim’s house at 2.31am.
He is seen walking away from the property at 2.33am, and turning to look back at the house briefly while continuing to walk.
He was later arrested by police at his brother’s home.
It emerged how Ms Morgan’s mother discovered her daughter’s lifeless body.
PSNI Detective Superintendent Darren McCartney said following the sentencing that one of Ms Morgan’s children was found “trying to comfort his mother’s lifeless body”.
“Caoimhe Morgan was just 30-year’s-old when her life was so viciously taken,” he said of the pre-Christmas attack.
“She had sustained multiple injuries to the front and back of her head, which a post mortem examination revealed had been caused by blunt force trauma.
”Caoimhe was murdered by Taylor McIlvenna in a senseless and shocking act of violence.
“This was an attack, in her own home, that took her life and changed the lives of others forever. Four young children have been left without their loving mother. Heartbreakingly, one of the little ones was found at the scene trying to comfort his mother’s lifeless body. This is distressing beyond words.”
Detective Superintendent McCartney went on to describe how McIlvenna took his victim’s phone following the “vicious and frenzied unprovoked assault”.
”Following her murder, he used the victim’s phone to send a series of texts to her family members, pretending to be the victim in an attempt to cover his tracks,” he said of McIlvenna.
The officer thanked the north Belfast community for its support throughout the investigation.
“The evidence they provided has been vital to our investigation, leading to the conviction of the defendant,” he said.
“Working in partnership with the Public Prosecution Service, McIlvenna has now been held accountable for this most brutal and irreversible act, and will have time to reflect upon his actions in prison.
”The sorrow and heartache of Caoimhe’s family and friends won’t end with today’s sentencing. Nothing I can say will take away their pain, and I can only extend my sincere sympathy, and indeed those of every single person involved in this investigation to the children and wider family.”
Detective Superintendent McCartney also appealed to those trapped in abusive relationships to contact police.
“Domestic abuse is not just physical. It can take many forms, including emotional abuse,” he said.
“We know that victims can feel vulnerable, and we’ve sadly seen, in this case, abuse can fatally escalate.
”I am keen to encourage any victims of abuse to come forward. We will listen to you and we will treat you with total respect and sensitivity. You don’t have to suffer in silence. Please contact us on 101, or in an emergency call 999.”