The mother of an 11-year-old boy who was murdered by his uncle in 2019 has told the inquest into his death that she believed his killer was obsessed with him.

A jury at Limerick Coroner’s Court found that Brooklyn Colbert of Aherlow Close, Caherdavin, died by “unlawful killing”.

The boy’s uncle, Paddy Dillon, of Moyross, is serving a life sentence after pleading guilty to the murder.

Brooklyn Colbert. Image: Sonia Aymler

Speaking to Newstalk after reporting restrictions on the case were lifted, Brooklyn’s mother Sonia Aylmer described him as a “little loveable character”.

“He was really affectionate,” she said.

“He loved animals and cuddles and he was very soft and very funny from when we can remember. From when he could talk, he was dancing around the house – he had his own style of dancing.

“Everybody just had a little spark for him.”

Brooklyn Colbert. Image: Sonia Aymler

The inquest heard that Brooklyn died from massive blood loss after being beaten with a hammer and stabbed over 20 times.

A post-mortem revealed Brooklyn had tried to defend himself during the attack and that his death would have been “very rapid”.

In a deposition, Brooklyn's mother Ms Aylmer said she believed her stepbrother Paddy Dillon had developed an “obsession” with her only son.

Ms Aylmer said Dillon often referred to Brooklyn as ‘his king’ and that they were frequently together.

She said she thought Dillon wanted to kill Brooklyn so that they could go to heaven together.