Four young children who made the horrific discovery of the body of a new-born baby girl wrapped in a plastic bag in the North said personal farewells at her funeral today.
The children have been counselled by police investigating the discovery of the murdered infant in a lane at Carryduff, Co Down, five months ago.
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Poster released by the PSNI in a new bid to trace the baby's mother
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But they insisted on attending the funeral of the infant - named 'Baby Carrie' by police. Officers said the decision had given the youngsters comfort and some closure.
Brothers Raymond and Ryan Waddell (13) together with Danielle Clifton (10) and Rachel Mills (10) had been playing near a sports complex when they found the baby's body and raised the alarm.
Today, they walked behind the tiny white coffin of Baby Carrie, carried from an interdenominational service on the outskirts of Belfast by Det Sgt Lindsay McNair, part of the police investigation team.
At the graveside in Knockbreda cemetery, they each threw a single pink rose into the grave and placed small teddy bears by the gravestone bearing the inscription: "Baby Carrie. Known only unto God".
Police and the local Castlereagh council united to provide the funeral service and burial that was attended by nearly 150 people, including police involved in the investigation, local people and politicians.
After five months of unsuccessfully trying to identify the baby's mother, Det Chief Insp Roy McComb renewed the appeal for her to come forward.
PA