Teen obsessed with Andrew Tate beats woman to death then posts 'sickening' Snapchat video

Lorna Woodnutt was bludgeoned to death by the callous teenager, who a court heard followed several such influencers online - and sources have confirmed these included Andrew Tate

A teenage boy who murdered a woman as she worked at her kitchen table was obsessed with controversial social media influencer Andrew Tate, it has been revealed.

The 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named due to his age, has been jailed for life following the brutal killing of Lorna Woodnutt. During the hearing at the Central Criminal Court on Thursday, it was disclosed the boy followed several such influencers online, although none were named.

It has now been reported that Tate, dubbed the "king of toxic masculinity", was one of several male role models with whom the boy had an unhealthy fascination. Tate, 37, is currently facing charges in Romania for rape, sexual exploitation and human trafficking and is notorious for his self-proclaimed anti-women remarks.

A source told the Irish Mirror: "There were others but the main one was Tate. He lived most of his life online." Mr Justice Paul McDermott had expressed concern over his unhealthy interest in male role models who "peddle extreme beliefs and values". The judge noted that this had influenced the boy's thinking and fostered a negative attitude towards women.

Mr Justice McDermott condemned the "defenceless" Ms Woodnutt's death as the result of "a cowardly, brutal and sustained assault" inflicted by a then 16-year-old boy with "extraordinary level of brutality and viciousness". He highlighted that the merciless act caused "maximum terror and suffering", emphasising that it was not "a spontaneous eruption of violence" but rather "conceived and executed with deliberate intent".

The judge also noted the callous nature of posting a "sickening" video online after the attack, which he said was an utter display of disrespect towards the victim.

Ms Woodnutt, 51, experienced a horrific death when she was brutally assaulted by the boy at a residence outside Tullamore in Co Offaly, Ireland, in September 2023. The teenager shared a Snapchat video showing his deceased victim to all his followers, with the intention that they would inform the Gardai, leading to a police discovery at the scene.

The sentencing hearing in court disclosed that the now 17-year-old culprit, whose identity is protected due to his minor status, had been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder since he was 18 months old and exhibited escalating aggressive and defiant behavior towards school staff and fellow students in the time preceding the murder.

Furthermore, the court was informed by a psychiatrist that the teenager had been found to have an adjustment disorder, while also indicating it was too early for the youth to be diagnosed with other potential mental health disorders.

Ms Woodnutt, a lab technician, died after suffering severe blunt force injuries to the head, face and chest during an attack while she was working at her kitchen table. A post-mortem report revealed the horrifying extent of her injuries, with her facial features completely obliterated, exposing her skull.

The court heard that the teenager responsible for the brutal killing showed little emotion, which his defence barrister, James Dwyer SC, attributed to his condition rather than a "callous lack of victim awareness".

The probation report highlighted the defendant's high risk of reoffending due to his extreme violence, inability to regulate emotions and lack of accountability or responsibility despite knowing his actions were wrong. The judge stated that the boy could potentially be released in 2038, depending on his educational progress and behaviour.

The level of danger he poses to others will also be considered. Mr Justice McDermott ordered regular updates on the boy's probation report and psychiatric assessment every two years. He extended his sympathies to Ms Woodnutt's family and friends.