Ben Butler and his murder of his 6-year-old daughter, Ellie.

'The trial heard how Butler battered his daughter to death in a momentary but volcanic loss of temper...'

As a father of little girls, this is the most disturbing story I've read about in my lifetime. Every time I see the picture of that girl I just take deep breaths and nod my head at the absolute evil inflicted upon that innocent child. That poor, poor, poor little girl. Absolutely sacrificed. Alone. Nobody to look out for her, to protect her.

Ben Butler (36), Ellie (6) and Jennie Gray Butler

Her grandparents spent €100,000 taking legal action to save her from being sent back into the care of their daughter and her partner, Ben Butler. The state child welfare services also did all in their power to stop it. However, following a media campaign by Ben Butler and Ellie's mother (See this interview they did with Éamonn Holmes talking about "the nightmare doesn't end"), a judge decided that all records of abuse by Ben Butler of Ellie should be quashed and Ellie should be returned to him. Ellie's grandparents, who funded the challenge to Ellie being returned to Butler and their daughter, said at the time that the judge will have blood on her hands.

11 months later, Ben Butler beat that innocent little six-year-old child to death. The child's mother then helped him cover up the murder. I'm always uncomfortable calling people, as opposed to actions, 'evil' but when I see that little girl and all the hope, happiness and life she should have had, and then think of what those two adults did to her over the course of her entire life, I'll make an exception. All the love and support she needed, and she gets beaten for years by her father while her mother covers up for him. That innocence, that hope, that need for love and security of a young life. There are some words and sentiments which are much easier to write than to say but even here words fail to capture the evil of what was inflicted on this poor, poor little girl. Rest in peace, brave little one.

1. Ben Butler jailed for life for murdering six-year-old daughter Ellie

2. Ben Butler trial: Father sentenced to life in prison for murder of six-year-old daughter Ellie Butler

3. Ben Butler jailed for murdering daughter Ellie after custody battle

Samaris

Horrendous story. Poor kid. And poor grandparents too, who fought for her.

Sand

Its an awful story. There is evidence of the kid being shaken, having bruises, being absent from school for days at a time and the Judge who returned her seem convinced it was completely groundless. You have to wonder what their reaction to this is, and what the court system will learn from it.

I suppose there have always been abusive parents, but its seems to be disturbingly common for parents to beat and eventually murder their children these days. There seems to be a case in the papers every 6-9 months. In February 2016, a 14 year old in the US was beaten to death by his father for getting poor grades in school. In April 2016 a 4 year old girl in Texas was beaten to death by her mother and her boyfriend because the girl took her brothers juice. In May 2014 a 21 month old child was beaten to death by her mother and her boyfriend in the UK. In Aug 2014 a woman beat her 3 year old son to death in Scotland. In March 2014 a woman and her partner tortured her two year old son to death (there is no other description for it) in Scotland, and then tried to blame the killing on another child. There just seems to be people out there who are not just negligent towards their children or incapable of taking care of them, but seem to actively hate and want to hurt them. Those kids lived lives which I find difficult to even imagine.

That father seems like a piece of work - who loses their temper to the extent they beat a 6 year old to death? He should never be released and the the younger child should never be reunited with her mother. If the mother collaborated in the killing and cover up of Ellie, the younger child will not be safe - it could just as easily have been her who was killed instead.

Amanda.ie

It was too horrendous and upsetting to read. Poor little girl how she suffered. Neither of her parents cared for her.

Sand

Sand wrote: »

Its an awful story. There is evidence of the kid being shaken, having bruises, being absent from school for days at a time and the Judge who returned her seem convinced it was completely groundless. You have to wonder what their reaction to this is, and what the court system will learn from it...

The Judges will usually, or at least should usually, rely on the input of medical experts, child psychologists, social services and the like. If anything most of them err on the side of caution here precisely because they do not want to open the paper and read about cases like this. So for example in farming families if you want the kids away from the father you refer to his strange behaviour and ownership of a shotgun and that'll, understandably, concern most District Court Judges. Conversely, I've been involved in cases where the first advice is surrender your shotgun so it's not an issue.

take everything

Saw that story in the Irish Times today.
Just impossible to fathom.
Pure evil.

That child didn't have a chance in life. Heartbreaking.

I suspect he will have to be carefully watched in any prison he ends up. There is a hierarchy, and child killers tend to be low down. Which is not to say I hope he's attacked...because it'd just be by some other scumbag getting his jollies but considering what his own child endured at his hands I'd be...indifferent.

DrumSteve

I hope that little girl finds the peace in death she could not have in life.

Two Tone

Sand wrote: »

I suppose there have always been abusive parents, but its seems to be disturbingly common for parents to beat and eventually murder their children these days. There seems to be a case in the papers every 6-9 months. In February 2016, a 14 year old in the US was beaten to death by his father for getting poor grades in school. In April 2016 a 4 year old girl in Texas was beaten to death by her mother and her boyfriend because the girl took her brothers juice. In May 2014 a 21 month old child was beaten to death by her mother and her boyfriend in the UK. In Aug 2014 a woman beat her 3 year old son to death in Scotland. In March 2014 a woman and her partner tortured her two year old son to death (there is no other description for it) in Scotland, and then tried to blame the killing on another child. There just seems to be people out there who are not just negligent towards their children or incapable of taking care of them, but seem to actively hate and want to hurt them. Those kids lived lives which I find difficult to even imagine.

I reckon unfortunately that things have never been better for children as they are today. Child abuse can only have been more commonplace in the past (including in institutions) - it's just that the availability of these ghastly stories is so accessible now.

This story is very very upsetting.

Two Tone

Deleted User wrote: »

I suspect he will have to be carefully watched in any prison he ends up. There is a hierarchy, and child killers tend to be low down. Which is not to say I hope he's attacked...because it'd just be by some other scumbag getting his jollies but considering what his own child endured at his hands I'd be...indifferent.

I normally think like this, but I actually really do hope he is attacked. Really do. Fuk him.

And her.

Gatling

An absolute arrogant scumbag that deserves to be put down .

I am in favour of civil liberties, I don't agree with the nonsensical mob stuff like all paedos should be killed or castrated or blah blah blah.

But I do agree with the death penalty where the crime is murder and there are particularly aggravating circumstances. This would be one.

Sand

The mother speaks like she is on Twitter too.

Gray said: "#Bigmistake #Spendanother10yearsprovingyouwrong."

Samaris

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5ILmebheQx3YmhvbjVYOHlpN2M/view?pref=2&pli=1

This is the report on the inquiry into whether these children were failed, if so, how, why, and what could have been done better. If you're finding yourself asking "why" or "how" (as I was), it's a..I won't say "good" read, but interesting and informative and gives an idea as to what's behind the scenes with these cases and how the child protection services can operate, or, as in this case, can be prevented from operating.

The shortest form is that the inquiry found that the Judge had not given an unreasonable judgement in the face of the evidence presented to her, but that she was perhaps too optimistic in her suggestion that the parents would change once the pressure of the court case was off them. It also found that the various people involved did their best in very difficult circumstances, and that the complete exoneration as handed down in the case made it very difficult for them to act as they now had no reason to be working with the family unless the parents requested (or allowed it, which they did not). That doesn't mean that they -didn't- work with the family, but their hands were tied.

Finally, it found that the child's voice - Ellie and her sibling's voices - were lost under the much louder (and aggressive and litigious) voices of their parents, particularly the father, and that needs to be kept in mind in the future, that the children at the heart of these cases are listened to when they're demonstrably afraid, uncertain and are being moved around and their lives turned upside down. She was happy and safe with her grandparents. If only their rights had been stronger to keep her where she wanted to be.

cowboyBuilder

Horrible story, poor kid.

RIP

but nothing surprises me out of that peadophile SS child abuse nazi state that is the UK.

Two Tone

cowboyBuilder wrote: »

Horrible story, poor kid.

RIP

but nothing surprises me out of that peadophile SS child abuse nazi state that is the UK.

Seriously, could you not use a less tragic and horrific story as a platform for whatever the above yoke is supposed to be about?

Summer wind

You know I really wish I could come here and say how shocked I am to read this horrible story. How unusual it is for a parent to maim hurt and kill their beautiful little girl. But the terrible truth is I'm not and it isn't. Everyday I pick up the newspaper and read horrendous sickening stories of what disgusting depraved evil filth that call themselves parents do to their children.
This lovely little girl endured a life that I could not even imagine. Her little eyes were blackened she was used as a human punchbag. Her little shoulder was even broken. How could anyone do that to a little girl? She was left thrown on her bedroom floor like a broken doll with her head so badly beaten it was a soggy mess. She died alone in agony. Her little sister was sent into her room two hours later on purpose so she would find her little battered body.
The two evil spineless bastards that did this should never again see the light of day.

cowboyBuilder

cowboyBuilder wrote: »

Horrible story, poor kid.

RIP

but nothing surprises me out of that peadophile SS child abuse nazi state that is the UK.

Read about the cross exam of the leader of SF in the case against his brother for child abuse.

We are in no position to throw stones. This is a senior figure in Irish politics.

Mam of 4

Summer wind wrote: »

You know I really wish I could come here and say how shocked I am to read this horrible story. How unusual it is for a parent to maim hurt and kill their beautiful little girl. But the terrible truth is I'm not and it isn't. Everyday I pick up the newspaper and read horrendous sickening stories of what disgusting depraved evil filth that call themselves parents do to their children.
This lovely little girl endured a life that I could not even imagine. Her little eyes were blackened she was used as a human punchbag. Her little shoulder was even broken. How could anyone do that to a little girl? She was left thrown on her bedroom floor like a broken doll with her head so badly beaten it was a soggy mess. She died alone in agony. Her little sister was sent into her room two hours later on purpose so she would find her little battered body.
The two evil spineless bastards that did this should never again see the light of day.

So well said , thank you.

Words fail me to be honest . For this to happen to ONE child , is one too many . Let alone the amount of times we read of it happening to poor , innocent, defenceless voiceless children .

The word evil doesn't even begin to describe what these depraved people are.

Two Tone

Deleted User wrote: »

Read about the cross exam of the leader of SF in the case against his brother for child abuse.

We are in no position to throw stones. This is a senior figure in Irish politics.

The fact the SF guy is Irish and a senior figure in Irish politics has nothing to do with "we" - we can criticise protection of child abusers in Ireland and Britain and anywhere else if we so wish; the only way we would be in no position to throw stones is if we were also abusing children.

IMO the comment you are referring to should not be treated with seriousness anyway as it is that ridiculous - "SS, nazi", wtf? So there are death camps in Britain?

And it is in the worst taste possible considering the thread topic.

Samaris

Yeeah, can I suggest that we just..ignore that sort of nasty crap in here? I mean, there's a time and place and all, and one can get away with it in just about any thread, so maybe we just don't give it any attention in here and they'll give up.

Hazydays123

I followed this case with great sadness throughout.

What really shocked me is how delusional they are as a couple. It's like they're so caught up in their own web of lies that they've almost started to believe their own bullsh*t.
The television appearances and the indignant defiance is absolutely beyond me. They're absolute narcissists.

I really hope there's a better place beyond this earth where that little girl gets the kindness she was so cruelly denied in life.