A murder inquiry has been launched following the discovery of the body of an eight-year old boy on a beach in Greystones, Co Wicklow last night.
The boy was named today as Karl Murphy, from Milltown South, Rathnew.
He was found lying face down in shallow water at around 10.40 on North Beach, Greystones.
A Gardaspokesman said the child's mother, who was found lying beside him, was brought to Loughlinstown Hospital for treatment. He would not comment on her condition.
The boy's father had reported the child missing about two hours before the body was found by an off-duty garda, who was escorting a group of boy scouts on the beach.
A post mortem on the child was completed this afternoon by the State Pathologist, Dr John Harbison. The results are not being released for "operational reasons", the Garda spokesman said.
He appealed for any members of the public who were in the North Beach area between 9.00 and 10.40 last night to contact the incident room at Bray Garda Station on 01 666 5300.