Child's death treated as suspicious, three arrested

A still of the scene in Dungannon. A police officer in a green uniform and black vest with 'police' written in the back in white font stands with their back to the camera. A police vehicle is parked to the side of the officer and in the background is a red brick house.Image source, Pacemaker
Image caption,

Police say they are treating the death as suspicious

  • Published

The death of a child in County Tyrone is being treated as suspicious, police have said.

A man and two women, all aged in their 20s, have been arrested.

The child died at an address in Windmill Court in Dungannon, on Sunday.

A post mortem examination will take place to determine the cause of death.

Sinn Féin assembly member for Fermanagh and South Tyrone Colm Gildernew said the death of the young child was a "tragedy" and offered his condolences to the family.

"Inevitably there will be shock and sadness at the loss of such a young life and that will reverberate throughout the town of Dungannon," he added.

Image caption,

The child died on Sunday, police say

Speaking at Stormont on Monday, Deborah Erskine, Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) assembly member for Fermanagh and South Tyrone, urged the public not to speculate about the "tragic" incident.

"This is a death of a child, which is very concerning and very worrying," she told BBC News NI.

"I’m asking that the public don’t speculate to allow the police to do their job in fully investigating this so that it can be brought to a conclusion as swiftly and as quickly as possible."

Erskine added there would be "widespread concern, worry and shock" not just in Dungannon but across Northern Ireland.

'Shocking and tragic'

Social Democratic and Labour Party councillor Karol McQuade called for anyone with information to contact the police, adding: "It’s just tragic when a child has been involved in an incident like this."

Barry Monteith, an independent councillor for Mid Ulster, said the death was "extremely shocking and tragic".

"All we can do is have our thoughts and feelings for all the people that love that child and express sympathy, because every child deserves love," he added.