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Woman arrested after body of boy (6) found in car in Co Waterford

A woman, who is known to the child, was discovered at the scene.

Ralph Riegel

Today at 09:01

Gardaí are treating the death of a six year old child in Waterford as suspicious.

Gardaí and paramedics were called to a rural property outside Dunmore East in Waterford late on Thursday evening amid concerns for the welfare of the occupants of a house.

A six year old boy was discovered unresponsive in a car parked not far from the property.

A woman, who is known to the child, was discovered at the scene.

The woman, in her late thirties, was arrested at the scene and was brought to a Waterford Garda Station for questioning.

She is being detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984.

She was given emergency medical treatment at the scene and will also receive treatment while in Garda custody.

Desperate efforts were made at the scene by paramedics to assist the unresponsive child.

The youngster was rushed to University Hospital Waterford (UHW) where, despite efforts by doctors to stabilise the child’s condition, the boy was pronounced dead shortly after 2am today.

Gardaí have sealed off the scene to allow for a full forensic and technical examination.

The initial property is located at Rathmoylan outside Dunmore East and just over 20km from Waterford city.

The Office of the State Pathologist has been notified.

A full post mortem examination is scheduled to be conducted on the little boy at UHW.

Garda sources said the nature of their investigation will be determined by the findings of the post mortem examination.

However, the boy’s death is being treated as suspicious given the circumstances involved.

The woman arrested is understood to have been in a very distressed condition when detained by officers.

Gardaí are expected to commence local inquiries about when the child and woman were last seen and if neighbours heard or say anything suspicious over recent days.

A garda spokesman said the results of a post-mortem will determine the course of the investigation.

He said: “Gardaí in Waterford are investigating all of the circumstances surrounding the death of a young boy aged 6 whose body was found in a car at Dunmore East, County Waterford shortly after midnight this morning, Friday 9th February, 2024.

“A woman in her late 30s was arrested at the scene and is currently detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984 at a Garda Station in County Waterford.

“The body of the deceased has been removed to Waterford University Hospital for a post-mortem examination. The scene is preserved for forensic and technical examination. The local Coroner and Office of the State Pathologist has been notified.

“The outcome of the post-mortem examination will determine the course of the investigation.

“Enquiries are ongoing, and further updates will follow.”