The Irish Mirror is sharing never before seen photos of the smirking killer Tegan, who her sister now says duped them all
Killer Tegan McGhee (32) from Limerick. (Image: )
A sister of child killer Tegan McGhee has called her an “evil monster” who “fooled us all.”
Killer Tegan McGhee (32) from Limerick was sentenced to life in prison this week for the brutal murder of her partner’s four-year-old son Mason O’Connell Conway in 2021.
Mason’s father, John Paul O’Connell, has already been jailed for seven years for assisting an offender, neglect, and endangerment of a child.
The Irish Mirror is sharing never before seen photos of the smirking killer Tegan, who her sister now says duped them all.
In a post which she has given The Irish Mirror her blessing to share, Tegan’s sister Shannon said she refused “to live in someone else’s shame.”
“My sister Tegan is an evil monster. No amount of words can describe how cold and cruel she is.
“She fooled us all for a full year before she was arrested and the truth came out. I couldn’t understand how the person I knew and loved my whole life was someone I didn’t even know. I’ve never said anything about this before because they weren’t allowed to be named.”
Tegan McGhee. (Image: )
Tegan McGhee was sentenced to life in prison after she was found guilty of the murder of four year-old Mason O’Connell Conway. (Image: )
A judge this week lifted a court order that had meant that Tegan and young Mason could not be identified during the course of the case.
Shannon said that neither she nor her family “knew of the horrific things that happened to Mason.”
“He was kept from his family as well as us,” she said.
“We believed he had fallen from a bunk bed as did everyone else.
“When Mason died we also lost him. He was a beautiful little boy who brought so much joy to our lives and we mourn him everyday,” she added.
“Tegan and John Paul not only took Mason’s life but ruined everyone else’s along with it.
“Justice has finally been served although no amount of time can ever compare to the life she stole from Mason.”
Shannon went on to speak about how her evil sister never showed any emotion in court.
“To sit in court and watch her not even show a flicker of emotion speaks volumes. She is evil. I admire the strength Lizzie (Mason’s mother) has shown and how hard she fought for her son.
“The nightmare is never really over but at least the long wait for justice is finally over,” she said.
Tragic Mason (4) was found with serious injuries at a house in Limerick City on March 13, 2021. He was pronounced dead three days later.
Mason O’Connell, 4, died of a traumatic head injury(Image: )
Mason O’Connell’s mother speaks outside court after Tegan McGhee, 32, of no fixed abode, was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of her four year-old son. Her father Tony Conway (Mason’s grandfather) holds a photo of Mason. (Image: Collins Photo Agency)
Mr Justice McDermott said there was evidence that the child had been deliberately isolated for weeks before the murder and in particular for the last four days of his life.
During that time he was abused by his father and stepmother, who “continued to mete out” what they must have known were disproportionate and damaging punishments to the child.
They deceived family and friends who wanted to see Mason and, knowing that McGhee had inflicted fatal wounds on the child, they tried to deceive medical professionals about what had been happening. The judge described the abuse as an “appalling breach of trust” that had caused damage to the child, his mother and the extended family.
Mr Justice McDermott commended the child’s mother, Elizabeth Conway, for her “enormous courage” in delivering her victim impact statement at a hearing earlier this week with “poise and dignity”.
Speaking outside court, Ms Conway said nothing will ever bring her son back. “The last five years have been a living hell, and then hearing what my poor little man dealt with in the days, weeks and months leading up to this death – I have never heard so much evil in all my life.”
She said her worst nightmare came true “in the worst way possible”.
She said two “very evil people” robbed her “innocent baby” of his life. “Mason was such a loving, caring, clever little child who brought so much love and happiness into our lives… Mason was a typical four-year-old little boy who loved cars, bikes, school, playing with his siblings and friends and being in his mammy’s house.”
Mason wasn’t just my son, he was my everything.” She said she will never forgive herself for trusting McGhee and O’Connell to look after her son.
“I couldn’t wait to watch Mason growing up, hitting his milestones, but unfortunately I will never see him alive again.”
She said McGhee and O’Connell would have gotten away with their lies but for the garda investigation.
She added: “There is nothing I miss more than knowing my kids were with me safe and sound. Our family is forever broken, nothing is or ever will be the same, but Mason, my boy, you will never be forgotten by the ones who loved you… love you forever my boy, thank you for the honour of being your mother.”
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