An inquest into the death of a baby girl discovered fatally stabbed in a lane in Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin in 1973 today heard an exhumation of the body may be considered.
The infant was buried in the communal Little Angels' plot of Glasnevin Cemetery, Dublin in 1973. The baby, who has still not been identified formally, died from haemorrhaging from blood vessels in the neck due to stab wounds.
Dublin County Coroner Doctor Kieran Geraghty today said: "The question of an exhumation may have to be considered."
The inquest was reopened over 30 years after the baby's death following representations from solicitors acting for Cynthia Owen who has come forward and claimed to be the mother of the baby.
The Dun Laoghaire Coroner's Court heard on the last occasion the baby was discovered on April 4th, 1973 in Lee's Lane and the Coroner held an inquest on April 27th of that year.
Ms Owen, who is now in her 40s, has claimed the baby was one of two she gave birth to as a young teenager as a result of sexual abuse in the 1970s.
Inspector Maura Lernihan asked the coroner to adjourn the inquest as gardaí were awaiting a decision from the DPP.
Kieron Wood, a barrister for Ms Owen, said: "My client is obviously anxious to bring this to a speedy conclusion given the length of time that has elapsed."
Inspector Lernihan said the DPPs decision on the Garda investigation should be made in the next month or shortly afterwards. She told the inquest the DPP had contacted gardaí within the last week and requested further inquiries into the matter.
The inquest was adjourned until June 6 thpending the Director of Public Prosecution's consideration of the Garda file.
After the inquest, Ms Owen said: "I am encouraged but it is 33 years in April so it has been a very long time, it has been 11 years since I started this legal battle and this inquest should have been reopened 11 years ago. So I am encouraged but I am very upset and disappointed."
Last summer gardaí launched an excavation after Ms Owen claimed the remains of a baby boy, John, who she allegedly gave birth to during the 1970s was buried in the garden of a house in Dalkey, however gardai found no remains.