Gardaí to quiz Rathcoole residents in bid to find baby Maria's mother

Gardaí will canvass people in Steelstown in Rathcoole this afternoon as part of their attempts to identify the parents of baby Maria.

The newborn was discovered on the side of the road inside a Marks and Spencer bag by passers-by one week ago today.

She is currently being cared for by the Child and Family Agency Tusla.

Gardaí are appealing for her mother to contact them, as they are concerned she may need medical attention.

They will return to the scene in Rathcoole later and launch a fresh appeal for information.

Child Protection expert Shane Dunphy said the mother may have felt she was doing the best thing for the child.

"It's kind of hard-wired into our system to care for our children and not want to see harm come to them," he said.

"In instances like this where parents behave in uncharacteristic manners by abandoning their children … usually you're dealing with someone who thinks that they're doing the right thing, who feels that this is in the best interests of their child.