Gardaí and the Health and Safety Authority have begun an investigation into the death of an eight-year-old Co Mayo schoolgirl in a farmyard accident involving a tractor on Tuesday.
The victim was named yesterday as Jessica Needham from the townland of Lismolin, Islandeady, Castlebar. A postmortem was carried out at Mayo University Hospital in Castlebar. Details of the circumstances of the tragedy are being investigated by gardaí in Westport.
The dead girl’s parents, Pat and Michelle, were being comforted by neighbours at their home.
The schoolgirl’s death is the second farming-related death in west Mayo in the past week.
Sheep farmer Christy Gallagher (51) from Thallabawn, Louisburgh, was killed on Mweelrea Mountain on Saturday while rounding up sheep with neighbours when he fell into a ravine.
The father of four was buried yesterday.