Baby girl dies after fall from Phibsborough apartment

A BABY girl died after falling from the sixth floor of a Dublin apartment block yesterday.

The incident occurred at the Cross Guns Quay apartment complex off the Phibsborough Road at about 4pm.

The child, who is understood to be about 1½ years old, fell from a top-floor window. The development comprises six floors over a car park which is at ground level.

Gardaí were called to the scene and, in turn, called a unit of Dublin Fire Brigade. The baby was taken to Temple Street hospital, where she was later pronounced dead. Gardaí say they are investigating what they believe to be a tragic accident.

The gated apartment complex comprises two buildings: Block A, a modern building; and Block B, a converted mill and bakery, known as The Mill. The child was a resident in this older part.

The entrance to The Mill building overlooks the Royal Canal to the front and has a car park to rear. The child fell from a rear window of the apartment. There are no balconies in The Mill building, but there are sash windows with deep window sills internally. Last night, many of the upper-floor windows remained open in the mild weather.

Neighbours returning home from work expressed their shock at the incident. One man, who has lived in the development for 15 years, said “to have this happen so close to home, my heart stopped when I heard the news”.

While he did not know the family involved, he said the residents of many nationalities all got on well. He said the new and older parts were managed by two separate companies.

An employee of Smith’s pub, located opposite the development on the Phibsborough Road, said her colleagues and customers were “in shock” and saddened. She said she had been alerted to the incident by Garda sirens and four people travelled in a Garda car after the ambulance carrying the child to hospital.

In a similar incident in April, a 21-month-old baby boy died after a fall from an apartment in Inchicore. The baby was in the apartment at the private Tramyard complex with his mother and appeared to have woken up without her realising. He fell from a bedroom window. He landed on a vehicle ramp to the underground car park, effectively increasing his fall to a five-storey drop. He later died from his injuries.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Mountjoy Garda station on 01-666 8600.