'Sadistic' man who murdered toddler Millie Martin to serve at least 25 years

Toddler suffered fatal head injury, had 21 rib fractures and had sustained sexual injuries

The man who murdered 15-month old toddler Millie Martin has been sentenced to at least 25 years in prison.

Barry McCarney, 33, of Co Tyrone in Northern Ireland, was found guilty last month of the girl's murder in Enniskillen in 2009.

Mr Justice Ben Stephens told the former labourer he was a "deeply manipulative man" who had carried out a "sadistic sexual assault" on the child.

Millie died in December 2009 after McCarney brought her to hospital in an unconscious state.

The young girl had suffered a fatal head injury and had 21 rib fractures and had sustained sexual injuries.

The court was told her death had followed weeks of abuse.

The judge said McCarney was an individual devoid of social norms.

He said the attack on the toddler was a spontaneous reaction to the little girl's cries of pain as he sexually assaulted her.

Outside court his father, Kevin McCarney, said they would appeal against the conviction.

Millie's mother Rachael Martin had looked on from the public gallery.

McCarney had begun a relationship with Millie's mother at the end of August 2009, the court heard. He had moved into the fmaily home between the end of September and start of October 2009.

At the same trial last year, she was acquitted of charges of allowing her daughter's death and cruelty through wilful neglect.

Outside court, Ms Martin criticised the length of tariff handed to her ex-boyfriend.

She said: "I don't think it was long enough, 25 years isn't long enough."