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Neighbours and locals in the small village of Clashmore, Co Waterford, have expressed shock at the death of a baby girl who was attacked by a dog in the house.
The three-month-old was in bed in the terraced house when the animal went upstairs at about 2am and attacked her.
Emergency services treated the girl’s injuries at the scene before she was taken by ambulance to Cork University Hospital where she died at about 3am.
A postmortem is due to be carried out today. The house has been sealed off for a forensic examination.
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It is understood that a file will be sent to the Coroner’s Court and an inquest will be held in due course. The incident is being investigated by gardaí in Dungarvan who are appealing for anyone with information to contact them.
The mother of the child is aged in her 20s and moved to the area relatively recently. The father of the child is aged in his 30s and originally from Youghal, Co Cork.
Fr Milo Guiry of Ardmore, whose parish encompasses the village of Clashmore, said what had unfolded was a “terrible tragedy”.
“We will keep the family in our prayers. Every support will be offered to them. It is terrible, terrible news.”
Clashmore resident Pat Flavin said the family would be in the thoughts and prayers of everyone in the area.
“There are about 1,800 people in this area. It is a small place. Everyone will support them and do what they can for them.”
Mr Flavin said it had been a dreadful time for the wider community with five young teenagers being injured in a crash on the R633 Bog Road some 3km west of Youghal Strand last December.
“We have had a lot of tragedy. Now this. There was also a murder in the Decies Bar [in the village] many, many years ago.”
Rally around the family
A young mother whose children were playing in the play area near Raheen Quay Walk in Clashmore shook her head when asked about the incident.
“I heard first thing and I couldn’t even speak for a while because I have small kids myself. And you know we all always worry about our small kids and the things that could happen.”
Another woman said that the village would rally around the family.
“There will no doubt be a guard of honour [for the funeral]. We have done that for everybody and there have been a few deaths during Covid . . . People will do what they can.”
A woman, who would be identified only as a “mother of five”, said that the parish was numb following news of the infant death. “I am out for my walk and it’s on my mind. I don’t know them but I will say a prayer for them.”
The scene has been preserved for forensic examination and the Garda Technical Bureau are travelling from Dublin to complete same.
Waterford Independent Cllr Séamus O’Donnell said that he had spoken to locals in Clashmore who expressed shock at what had occurred.
“This is is a very unusual thing to happen. The family are new in to Clashmore . . . As a councillor I sympathise hugely with the family. It is very sad.”