Gardaí are expected to open a murder investigation following the discovery of a boy’s body in a car.
A woman in her 30s was arrested after the body of the boy (6) was found in the Rathmoylan area of Dunmore Eastshortly after midnight.
Gardaí believe toxicology results will shed light on what happened to the child and say the course of the investigation will be determined by the results of a postmortem.
The car was found at the end of a narrow laneway on the beach at a place known locally as Rathmoylan Cove.
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The woman was arrested at the scene and is being questioned at a Garda station in Co Waterford under section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984. She is receiving medical aid in custody.
Emergency responders at the scene tried to revive the boy and brought him to Waterford University Hospital, where he later died.
His body will now be the subject of a postmortem.
The scene is being preserved for forensic examination, and the local coroner and office of the State Pathologist has been notified. The laneway is near a cliff walk which is popular with locals.
Local councillor Jim Griffin said he did not know who the woman or the child involved were but the death of the young boy “cast a cloud of darkness over the area”.
“It is tragic. Our hearts go out to the woman involved and we hope that she gets the help she needs.”
Rathmoylan Cove is a popular spot for swimming and walking, even during winter. The cove is located at the end of a boreen, now cordoned off by gardaí.
Cllr Griffin lives close to the area. He, along with the community, is in a state of “disbelief”.
One side of the boy’s extended family is involved in a successful family-run business in Waterford, according to several local sources.
Over in Dunmore East, the sense of shock and despair was palpable.
Many people, understandably, did not want to offer any words beyond “too fresh”. A young woman simply said: “Everyone is in shock.”
One woman, a long-time resident of the town, said: “You think ‘Do I know the person? Do I know the child?’ It’s just awful.
“You think, ‘Could I have helped?’ You just never know.”
“God help the family, and God help the mother,” said another local.
Alphonsus Cullinan, the Catholic Bishop of Waterford and Lismore, said he had heard the news with “deep sorrow and profound sadness”.
“Our hearts go out to the family and loved ones of the young child during this incredibly difficult time,” he said.
A prayer vigil is to be held on Saturday at 7pm at the Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity in Waterford city.
The loss of the young boy was a “profound tragedy”, Bishop Cullinan said. “As a community, it is important for us to come together in prayer and reflection to offer comfort and strength to the family and friends of the young boy who has left us too soon,” he said.
Local parish priest Fr Richard O’Halloran said it was the second incident involving the death of a local child in recent weeks.
The funeral of four-year-old Kobi Macharia Dooly took place in Tramore last month. He was killed in London and his mother is charged with his murder. The Doolys are from Tramore.
“This is more devastating news for the parish and very sad news for the area when things like that happen to a child,” he said.
The Department of Education confirmed it had provided psychological supports to the school that the child attended.
The department stated: “When a tragic event happens, the National Educational Psychological Service is available to advise and support the teachers and other adults who work daily with students and who know them well.
“NEPS is also available to work with the teachers to identify students who are most in need of support and help develop procedures for reviewing their needs and supporting onward referral, if necessary.”
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