Dead baby's mother urged to come forward

Gardaí appealed today for the mother of a dead baby whose body was found in a skip at a recycling plant in Limerick to come forward.

Superintendent Tom Gavin stressed that the woman, who it is feared is in need of medical attention, would be dealt with sympathetically.

"We are appealing for the mother of the baby to come forward. She may well be in need of professional help. So if she would contact the gardai we could arrange for that for her, and we will certainly deal with her sympathetically," he said.

Gardaí said the dead baby was found yesterday by a Polish worker who was sorting through rubbish for recycling in a skip outside a tip in Newcastle West.

It is understood the grim discovery was made when the baby's remains fell out of a bag in the refuse skip. Gardaí believe the baby was born 48 hours or so before the body was discovered.

The horrified worker immediately informed gardaí of the find at around 9am yesterday morning.

A post mortem examination was carried out by State Pathologist Dr Marie Cassidy in the Mid-West Regional Hospital. The autopsy revealed the death was not suspicious.

Gardai at Newcastle West, who were heading up the investigation, said the baby had been still-born or else died of natural causes.

The skip is believed to have been hired out to a customer in the Rathkeale area of Limerick for several days. Gardai will also be following the movements of the skip over the past few days to examine who may have come into contact with it.

Supt Gavin appealed for anyone with information to contact gardai in Newcastle West on 069 20650.