The Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald has directly appealed to the mother of a baby girl found at the side of a road in Dublin last week to come forward and seek help.
A week after the infant, who has since been given the name Maria, was found in Rathcoole, gardaí still have no idea as to her identity.
Appealing to the mother directly on Thursday, Ms Fitzgerald stressed the priority was her wellbeing.
“I would like to say to the mother in that situation that our main concern is her welfare and I would ask her to get some help,” she said.
“The gardaí are concerned about her welfare, I’m concerned about her welfare. Anybody who finds themselves in a situation like that where the baby is found in those circumstances, clearly that has to be a very traumatic situation for the mother as well.
“I would appeal to her to come forward and get help.”
On Monday, Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, was granted an interim care order for the baby girl at the Family Court.
This process was activated after medical staff determined the child was in need of further attention, specifically a neurological exam and DNA test, as part of ongoing care at both the Coombe and Our Lady’s Hospital, Crumlin.
