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Mother who killed her three disabled children given hospital order

Depressed mother Tania Clarence, who smothered her three young disabled children as they slept before attempting suicide, was given a hospital order at the Old Bailey today after Judge Mr Justice Sweeney said she had been "overwhelmed".

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Tania Clarence suffered 'major depressive episode'

A mother who killed her three disabled children was "grief stricken" that they were destined to die before her, a judge has said.

Tania Clarence, 43, was sentenced to a hospital order today for smothering Olivia, four, and three-year-old twins Ben and Max last April.

Mr Justice Sweeney said there was "clear and convincing" evidence that Clarence was suffering a "major depressive episode".

The prosecution accept that you loved all four of your children – indeed there is a substantial body of evidence that they were happy and well looked after - and that you were grief stricken that Olivia Max and Ben were destined to die early and before you.

If you had not been suffering from mental illness at the time, you would not have killed your children.

– Mr Justice Sweeney

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