Body of newborn baby boy discovered in shallow grave

A POST MORTEM was due to be held today after a newborn baby was discovered in a shallow grave in Co Mayo.

The body of the baby boy was found on commonage at Kilgalligan village near Carrowteigue in Ballina at 2pm yesterday.

He was naked and wrapped in a clear plastic bag, according to gardaí.

The scene was preserved overnight for technical examination.

Chief Superintendent Tony McNamara has appealed for the mother to come forward and said she will be treated with the greatest compassion.

“We will give her every assistance possible. We are very concerned for her from a human perspective and are anxious that she receives medical treatment as soon as possible,” he said.

The body was discovered by a group of young teenagers who regularly congregate in the area.

Chief Superintendent McNamara said the baby appeared to be very young. They also believe that the body wasn’t in the ground for long.

The village of Kilgalligan is made up of about 20 scattered houses and the ground where the body was found is quite concealed.

“There is a fence in front and scrub, so it would be possible for somebody to bury the baby without passersby realising what they were doing,” Supt McNamara said.

Nonetheless, gardaí are appealing for anybody who may have noticed anything suspicious in the area to contact them.

A spokeswoman for crisis pregnancy agency CURA said the mother could be suffering from post-natal depression and that she is likely to benefit hugely from accessing professional support.

State Pathologist Dr Marie Cassidy was due to carry out a post mortem on the body at noon today.

Anybody with any information is asked to contact Belmullet gardaí or a confidential garda hotline on 1850 666 111.