Waterford's "unimaginable tragedy" as six-year-old found dead in a car

Gardaí in Waterford say they 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, Co Waterford shortly after midnight this morning, Friday, February 9.

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 Co 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 have been notified.

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

Enquiries are ongoing, An Garda Síochána said in a statement on Friday.

The Irish Examiner reports that the woman who has now been arrested was in a very distressed state and informed gardaí about the six-year-old boy in the car.

The woman has reportedly been referred for psychiatric services. 

The boy lived with his mother in Waterford City while his father is understood to be living in Cork, the Irish Examiner added.

Dunmore East-based Sinn Féin Cllr Pat Fitzgerald told the Irish Independent that there was a “sense of shock” in the area and “it’s a terrible thing to happen in any community.”

“We don’t know what happened. Our thoughts go out to the family. It’s the last thing I would have expected to hear in that community.

“It’s the worst news I could have heard this morning, or anybody around could have heard. It’s the last thing we expected. This is very, very, unusual to say the least.

"Anybody would be shocked, when they hear something like this,” he added.

In a statement, Bishop of Waterford and Lismore Alphonsus Cullinan said in part: "The tightknit community in Dunmore East will be devastated by this heartbreaking loss.

"The death of a child is an unimaginable tragedy, and our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by this deeply tragic loss.

"We extend our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of the young boy as they navigate through this time of immense grief and sorrow."