Gardaí wait to interview woman over death of boy in car

Matthew Healy died in hospital on Friday after he was found unresponsive in a car on the outskirts of Dunmore East.

Gardaí have yet to formally interview a woman arrested in connection with the death of a six-year-old boy in Co Waterford last week.

Matthew Healy died in hospital on Friday after he was found unresponsive in a car on the outskirts of Dunmore East.

His body has been removed to Cork, where his father lives, and a funeral mass is expected to take place in Watergrasshill in the coming days.

His father, James Healy, expressed deep gratitude to the public for attending vigils over the weekend in memory of Matthew. He also appealed for privacy for the family to mourn.

Matthew was a senior infants pupil at Faithlegg National School in Cheekpoint, Co Waterford, where he lived with his mother. He played soccer with the under-seven team at Park Rangers AFC.

A woman, aged in her late thirties, was arrested after the remains of the child were discovered at Rathmoylan Cove shortly after midnight on Friday. She was in a distressed state when arrested and required medical attention over the weekend.

The results of a preliminary postmortem examination on Matthew were inconclusive. However, gardaí suspect he was suffocated.

Education Minister Norma Foley has offered her sympathy to the grieving family.

“I know Matthew was a much loved and treasured member of the school community and he will be greatly missed by his fellow pupils, by the staff, the board of management, and everyone within the school community.”

A vigil in memory of Matthew was held at the Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity in Waterford at the weekend.