GArdai in Cavan are investigating a report that the body of a baby has been left in the town dump.
A search of the dump outside the town is due to begin today after a report was made to gardai on Friday. An area of the landfill about two miles outside the town has been sealed off.
Gardai were told that an 18-year-old woman had given birth to the baby about three weeks ago. The woman is believed to have confided in her parents who reported the matter to gardai. Gardai were told the baby had been born between eight and 12 weeks prematurely.
The woman said she gave birth in the shower and has told gardai the baby was still-born.
It is believed the woman told gardai she put the body of the baby in a bag and placed it in a bin which would have been taken to the town dump.
The plan for today's search is believed to involve a team of social workers and environmental health officers, as well as gardai. A Garda spokesman said a report "of a sensitive nature" had been made; with no evidence that any crime had been committed, there would be no further comment.
The woman is said to have denied she was pregnant when asked by concerned friends, family members and teachers. A North Eastern Health Board source said there was no reason for the woman to have come to the attention of the board as she was not a minor.
A spokesman said the board had not been informed of the case, and the woman had not come to the attention of the hospital.
"If there is somebody needing help then it is available through the health board," the spokesman said. "I would imagine in a case like this the person's GP may be the first port of call and the person would be referred from there."
A source close to this morning's search said: "Without doubt, this is a formidable task."