GARDAÍ IN Galway are treating the death of a young boy in south Galway two days ago as a “tragic accident”.
The child, who was due to mark his second birthday next Monday, died in hospital on Wednesday evening after he was rushed by ambulance from his creche at Ballinderreen, Co Galway.
He has been named locally as Cian Heneghan of Ballinderreen, and was the oldest of two children.
His parents, Daragh and Rebecca Heneghan, who were in the Netherlands on a short break, were travelling home yesterday.
Cian’s extended family had been minding him while his parents were away.
It is understood that the toddler was eating a vegetable snack including carrots when he developed complications.
He was given emergency assistance, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), by the creche staff.
An ambulance was called and the boy was rushed to University Hospital Galway, but efforts to resuscitate him proved unsuccessful.
Gardaí took statements for a coroner’s inquest, but the Health Service Executive West has declined to comment further. It is understood the incident is being treated as a freak accident.
The Health and Safety Authority said it had been informed, but would not be conducting an investigation as it was not the result of workplace activity.
The community creche in Ballinderreen village, which is 22km from Galway city between Kilcolgan and Kinvara, remained closed yesterday, with a black ribbon on the gate as a mark of sympathy.
In a statement, it said: “At Ballinderreen childcare centre, a little boy aged two became ill on Wednesday afternoon and was rushed to hospital.
“Despite medical intervention, tragically, the little boy lost his life.
“The creche staff, directors and the management committee offer their condolences to the parents, grandparents and family of the little boy, and their thoughts are with them at this time.”
Fr Anthony Minniter, parish priest of Balinderreen, said: “We are all shocked and devastated.”
Cian’s parents had married three years ago and were well known in the area, he added. “To lose a family member is terrible, and to lose a child is just heartbreaking.”
A parent of a child at the creche, who did not wish to be named, said the community was devastated.
He described how he and other parents learned that something had happened when they saw gardaí at the creche as they arrived to collect their children from pre-school care on Wednesday.
“Everyone thought that he would be all right,” the parent said.
“Our hearts go out to the parents and family of the little boy and also to the staff at the centre – they are all very professional and I am sure they did all that they could.”
Up to 60 children have attended the creche, which is known as a well-run professional community facility, meeting HSE standards. It provides care for young babies and children up to primary school age, as it also runs an after-school facility.
Local Fine Gael councillor Bridie Willers expressed her sincere sympathy on behalf of the south Galway community to the boy’s family yesterday.
“I didn’t know the family, but this is a terrible tragedy and the whole area is so saddened by it,” Ms Willers said.
“All we can say is that it was a freak accident, and this is just terrible for a young family, coming so close to Christmas – but at any time of the year.”