Probe under way after boy drowns in Killarney pool

A GARDA investigation is under way after a family holiday to Killarney turned into a nightmare yesterday morning when a 5-year-old boy drowned in a hotel swimming pool.

What began as a fun morning at the pool with his father for the little boy turned to disaster in just a few minutes when he got into difficulties while swimming at the Gleneagle Hotel in Killarney.

Efforts were made to revive the boy, both by the two lifeguards on duty and by the ambulance service.

The boy, who has not been named, is originally from Ballymun, Dublin.

A Garda spokesman said: “Every effort was made to revive the boy but the results were negative, he was taken from the scene to Kerry General Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

“We are treating it as a tragic incident and the postmortem has already taken place.”

A spokesperson for the hotel said they were devastated by the accident and that every effort was being made to support the family.

A statement released by the hotel said: “We are deeply saddened by today’s events and our thoughts are with the family at this time.

“The pool was fully supervised at the time of the accident, with two qualified lifeguards, and all the appropriate steps were taken. All the relevant authorities have been notified.”

The pool remained closed throughout the day. An investigation into the incident is being led by Killarney gardaí.