Garda probe as boy, 4, killed by falling steel door

GARDAI were last night investigating an incident in which a four-year-old boy died when a thick steel door fell on him.

The child was playing in a yard beside his home when the six-ft high container door fell on him around 5.30pm.

The boy, who would have been five in August, was named locally as Daniel Cleary, of Drumbar, close to Donegal town.

His parents, Keith and Patricia Cleary, have one other younger son.

Mr Cleary runs a haulage and plant hire business close to his home.

He was said by friends to have been on business abroad when the tragedy happened.

One neighbour said: “What happened is dreadful. I believe his poor mother was frantically trying to save the lad.”

Independent TD Thomas Pringle, who knows some members of the extended family, said: “Donegal town is in shock. The community is very upset.”

The boy was pronounced dead at the scene and his body was later removed to Letterkenny General Hospital where a postmortem is expected to be held.

The first game in a local football tournament between Four Masters GAA club, Donegal, and St Naul’s, Mountcharles, was cancelled last night as a mark of respect.

The child’s maternal grandfather, Paddy Gildea, is president of Four Masters.

Club chairman Sean Dunnion said: “Everybody is absolutely moved by what happened. It’s very sad.

“The lad’s grandfather, as well as being club president, was always helping out at the gates and wherever he could. It’s a great tragedy.”