Murdered baby finds place of rest at last

A murdered new-born baby is finally being laid to rest today almost a year to the day after his battered body was found in a shallow grave on a lough shore.

Despite 12 months of investigation, police have so far failed to identify the baby or coax his mother to come forward.

The body of the baby was found in a wooded area on the shore of Strangford Lough, a few miles from Newtownards, Co Down, on October 6 last year.

The baby boy was white, weighed just under seven pounds and had sparse dark hair.

Police said he was born alive, without any defect and had the potential to grow and enjoy a normal healthy childhood.

Last week the inquest into his death heard he had suffered massive head injuries after being held by the legs and battered repeatedly against a wall or the ground.

The Borough Council in Newtownards has organised the funeral and local business people came forward to give their services free.

A headstone for the baby with no name will be put in place later on the tiny grave prepared in Movilla Cemetery on a hill above the town.

The RUC team investigating the murder are today making a fresh appeal for information about the baby. They believe there must be someone who can help them with information to help identify him.