A 28-week-old dead foetus was discovered by a council worker yesterday in Letterkenny, Co Donegal. The male foetus, which had its umbilical cord and placenta attached, was found by a worker in the council sewage treatment plant in Magherennan, Letterkenny. Gardai said it weighed a few pounds and had been dead for about 24 hours.
A post-mortem was carried out on the foetus last night by the assistant State pathologist, Dr Marie Cassidy, at Letterkenny General Hospital.
Gardai have appealed for the mother of the foetus to come forward and said she would be treated compassionately. Inspector Vincent O'Brien from Letterkenny Garda station said: "We fear that the mother may need help and medical or psychological treatment. We understand that she could be going through a traumatic time at the moment and we would urge her to come forward."