Mark Hilliard
An 18-month-old girl was killed yesterday after falling approximately 30 feet from a third floor apartment window in Dublin.
The incident occurred at 9.30am at the Tolka Valley Apartments in the Dublin suburb of Finglas although the exact circumstances leading up to her death were unclear last night.
Neighbours said they heard screams early in the morning and a man, presumed to be the toddler’s father, running to her aid.
It is understood he quickly hailed down a taxi and took her to the Mater Hospital but she was pronounced dead at 10.30am.
Gardai are continuing to investigate the incident.
Neighbours explained that the windows in the apartments open fully inwards as well as opening more safely from the top.
Romanian resident Artur Chira, who has a son of the same age, said the incident had shocked those in the complex and that everyone's thoughts were with the parents.
“One neighbour came to me and say this news to me; it’s tragic, I was shocked when I heard it,” he said
“Now it’s happened and now people really think they have to keep a real close eye on our children. My son is the same age at 18 months.”
The Eastern European family in question is thought to be from Slovakia but this had not been confirmed last night. The complex is a mixture of mainly young families from abroad.
One landlord who arrived at the scene said: “I think in all the years we have never had anything like this.” There are approximately 100 apartments in all.
Last year, 21-month-old Sebastian Pereira Kus was killed after falling 16 metres from a fourth floor apartment at a complex in Inchicore in Dublin.
