An item of clothing found by gardaí at the spot where a dead baby boy was found in Co Mayo on Sunday provided a breakthrough in the hunt for the child's mother.
Gardaí interviewed a woman yesterday and afterwards, Chief Supt Tony McNamara, who has been heading the investigation, said he was satisfied she was the mother of the infant.
In keeping with an assurance made earlier this week that the mother would be treated compassionately and that no details would be released which might reveal her identity if she came forward, the chief supt was sparing in his information to reporters.
"All I can say is that the woman involved is over 18 years of age," he said. "I won't say where she is from, not even if she is from Co Mayo." He said the woman was traumatised by her whole experience. "The birth and the circumstances of the birth will have taken a lot out of her," he added, "as well as the fear and worry she has gone through since the actual birth took place just over a week ago."
The mother will be given a medical examination today.
The discovery of the remains of a baby boy in the shallow grave was made on Sunday at Kilgalligan, Carowtigue, near Belmullet, when youths spotted a bag protruding from the ground on a stretch of commonage.