Gardai investigate child abuse case

Gardai have confirmed that the body of a 12-year-old boy, who died over thirty years ago, is to be exhumed as they investigate the circumstances of his death.

The move comes as part of an investigation into alleged physical and sexual abuse of children at an industrial school in Co Galway.

The industrial school in Letterfrack was run by the Christian Brothers in west Co Galway.

The 12-year-old, who was a settled traveller, died in Co Kilkenny shortly after he left Letterfrack in 1970.

Information recently acquired by gardai suggests the boy may have been physically attacked in Letterfrack shortly before he died.

After tomorrow's post mortem examination, the boy's body will be reinterred in Co Kilkenny.

The investigation of alleged physical and sexual abuse of children in the industrial school in Letterfrack between 1940 and its closure in 1975, is the biggest investigation of its kind.

Nineteen arrests have been made and files have been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions.