Gardai probe suspicious death of week-old baby

GARDAI are investigating the death of a week-old baby in suspicious circumstances at a house in north Dublin.

The infant suffered a severe head injury and bruising to his body before he died in hospital.

Doctors fought desperately to save the baby boy after he was rushed to hospital by his distraught parents in the early hours.

Further investigations are to be carried out before a decision is made on whether the probe will be upgraded to a murder investigation.

The incident happened at a house in Lusk, Co Dublin where it is understood the couple and their child were visiting the home of friends.

INJURIES

He suffered injuries and they took him to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda. Despite efforts to save him, he was pronounced dead at around 2am.

Gardai had suspicions about the death and a post mortem examination was carried out by State Pathologist Dr Marie Cassidy.

It is thought that the cause of death may be a serious head injury. The baby boy is also believed to have sustained bruising to his body.

The child's devastated parents, who are in their 30s, were today being comforted by relatives.

An investigation was begun by gardai in Balbriggan and the house was sealed off for forensic tests.

Gardai also conducted house-to-house enquiries.

The family are believed to be members of the Travelling community who live in a halting site in Navan, Co Meath.

Neighbours in Lusk have expressed shock and sadness at the death.

They said they became concerned when they heard a commotion outside the house and saw an ambulance arrive around midnight.

"The mother was out in front of the house crying," a neighbour said.

"She was holding her face and looked distraught."

aphelan@herald.ie