Murder of Ana Kriégel

Anastasia (Russian: Анастасия) was born in Novokuznetsk, Russia in 2004 and placed in an orphanage.[2] In 2006, she was adopted by Geraldine Kriégel and her French-born husband Patric Kriégel (who passed away in June 2022, four years after her murder) and came to live in Ireland.[4][2] Though her parents had no cultural links to Russia themselves, they tried to make sure she kept connections with Russian culture, such as keeping her original given name.[2]

Kriégel was said to be a happy girl during most of her time in primary school, despite some health issues, such as a tumour that had to be removed from her right ear, which left her nearly deaf in that ear.[2] She also suffered from sight problems.[2] She struggled to make friends at the secondary school she attended.[2] She was suspended for painting a black eye onto herself; her mother thinks that the painted eye was an expression of the pain she felt inside.[2] She suffered from bullying, and self-harmed on one occasion in 2017.[3] Some of the bullying began before she started secondary school with online bullying about her height and the fact that she was adopted.[2] Some of the bullying messages were of a sexual nature.[2] She also set up fake social media accounts to "bully" herself.[5] After this, her mother insisted that Ana give her the passwords to all her apps, so her mother could check them.[2]

On 14 May 2018, Ana attended a counselling session. She went home from school, changed out of uniform and walked to Leixlip town centre. She came back and went up to her room before the child later known as Boy B called to the Kriégel home at 5:00 p.m. This was unusual; Ana's mother Geraldine recalled that Ana had no friends and that "nobody calls for Ana."[4]

Ana was last seen at 5:30 p.m. in St Catherine’s Park.[6]

The two accused were found guilty of murder on 18 June 2019.[15] The jury had deliberated for over fourteen hours.[16] After the verdict, Mr. Justice Paul McDermott thanked the jury members and relieved them from jury duty for the rest of their lives.[17]

Prosecuting counsel said there were places available at Oberstown Children Detention Campus.[18] The judge remanded them in custody and adjourned sentencing to 15 July.[18][2] Sentencing was further adjourned to October in order that psychological assessments could take place.[19]

A number of posts appeared on social media platforms including Twitter and Facebook that identified the two boys despite a court order being made preventing this. An injunction was served on Twitter and Facebook to remove all of these posts.[20]

The sentencing took place on 5 November 2019.[21] Boy A was sentenced to life with a review period after twelve years for Ana's murder.[21] Additionally he was sentenced to twelve years for aggravated sexual assault.[21] This sentence is to run alongside the murder sentence.[21] His co-accused, known as Boy B, was sentenced to fifteen years for Ana’s murder. This will be reviewed after a period of eight years.[22][21] Outside the court, Ana's father Patric said "forever is not long enough" in response to the sentences. The boys will be offered new identities after release.[23] Patric Kriégel died on 19 June 2022.[24]

The boys were both held in the Oberstown Detention Centre in North Dublin until 2022. The pair were then transferred to an adult prison upon turning 18.[25] In May 2020, Boy A, then aged 15, was assaulted by fellow inmates, suffering minor injuries.[26]