Child welfare body pledges to work with gardaí after toddler found 'stabbed'

Child welfare chiefs have said they will work with investigators probing the suspected murder of a two-year-old boy.

Hassan Khan was found dead yesterday with what is believed to be a stab wound to his neck in the apartment where he lived with his mother in Shankill, Co Dublin.

A woman in her 40s arrested at the scene remains in custody.

Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, confirmed it would hand over information on support offered to the boy and his family before his death.

“Following the death of a child, particularly in circumstances as tragic as the death of little Hassan, it is important that we all take the time to mourn a life not lived,” said Tusla chief executive Gordon Jeyes.

“In the period immediately following Hassan’s death the focus for Tusla will be on supporting those who knew and worked with the little boy and his family.

“In due course, the Child and Family Agency will work with any investigating body to provide all information available both in terms of any supports offered previously to the child and his family and any information which may cast light on why this tragic death took place.”

Tusla is the State agency responsible for child protection.

Gardaí are expected to launch a murder investigation as soon as post mortem results confirm the cause of death of the boy, discovered in a flat at Ridge Hall apartments, a gated residential complex in Ballybrack just north of Shankill in south county Dublin, yesterday afternoon.

@GerLynaghTV3: Ambulance arrives to remove body of 2 year old boy from Ridge Hall apartments in Shankill #TV3News pic.twitter.com/X4uRRvKzN6

— Geraldine Lynagh (@GerLynaghTV) October 16, 2014

No-one other than the woman and the baby boy was at the apartment when officers arrived.

The boy was later pronounced dead by a doctor.

His body remained at the scene for several hours after the discovery and the apartment was sealed off for forensic examination by technical experts and preliminary investigations involving the State Pathologist’s office.

The arrested woman is being questioned at Dun Laoghaire Garda station.

She is being detained under section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act.

A child safety alert had been issued over the boy several weeks ago when authorities became worried about his whereabouts.

However, the nationwide Child Rescue Ireland alert was stood down within hours of having been issued in August after the child was found safe and well with his father, 61-year-old Mohamed Saleem Khan.

Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald says the investigation is likely to look at the support given to the family.

“Reports will be called from from other bodies, that is certainly possible in any investigation,” she said.

“Obviously, you can’t cover every situation, but clearly where families are in difficulties what we would want to see are the very best services and supports being made available to families.”

It is understood investigating gardaí contacted Mr Khan last night to break the news of his son’s death to him.