Woman held over sudden death of baby in Co Mayo is released

‘Unexplained’ death of four-month-old at house in Bohola on December 28th investigated

Gardaí are investigating the ’unexplained death’ after an incident at a house in Bohola, Co Mayo, on December 28th.
Gardaí are investigating the ’unexplained death’ after an incident at a house in Bohola, Co Mayo, on December 28th.

A woman in her 20s who had been arrested in Co Mayo after the "sudden and unexplained" death of a four-month-old baby boy has been released without charge.

Gardai will prepare a file for the DPP on the death of a 4-month-old baby boy from the Bohola area of Co Mayo in Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children, Dublin, on January 1st.

The woman had been detained at Claremorris Garda station sinceWednesday under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984.

The infant was treated initially at Mayo University Hospital, Castlebar, on December 28th before being transferred to Crumlin. Authorities at the hospital raised concerns about the infant and gardaí in Co Mayo were contacted and an investigation was started.

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The child involved was ona life support machine for a number of days before the apparatus was turned off.

A postmortem examination was conducted into the baby’s death. This autopsy is understood to have raised the possibility of what is known as known in medical terms as “shaken baby syndrome” - a serious brain injury that can result in permanent brian damage or death.

The official results of the postmortem which was carried out are not being revealed by gardai “for operational reasons”.

At about 11.40 on Thursday, An Garda released a statement saying: “ The woman in her 20s arrested in connection with this investigation was released without charge this morning a file will now be prepared for the information of the Director of Public Prosecutions.”

Niamh Towey

Niamh Towey

Niamh Towey is an Irish Times journalist