A new-born baby boy whose battered body was found in a makeshift grave on a lough shore a year ago was finally given a proper burial today.
Murder squad detectives still investigating the killing led mourners at the funeral of the still unidentified infant.
The tiny white coffin was buried at a hill-top cemetery at Newtownards, County Down, overlooking Strangford Lough, beside which the body was discovered almost a year ago to the day.
A headstone said simply: "Erected in memory of a baby boy known only to God".
A dozen wreaths sent by RUC stations and a few from local people were laid around the grave.
Police investigating the murder today issued a new appeal for information to help them solve the killing.
They know the baby was born alive and without defects and they said someone must know the mother of the infant.
An inquest into the death last week was told the infant had suffered horrific head injuries after being held by the legs and swung repeatedly against a wall or the ground.
Detective Inspector Mr Ron Edgar said: "This child was murdered, this was a premeditated killing.
"Somebody out there knows who the mother of this child is, I have no doubt about this. It is imperative they come forward and contact detectives."
He said even if they did not know the mother, somebody had information which could help police.
The officer said the mother had been given assistance at the birth and the child killed soon afterwards.
Mr Edgar said police believe the mother probably came from within a five-mile radius of where the body was found in a shallow grave in woodland beside the Mount Stewart estate on the shores of the lough.
"It is possible she could be quite a young person, in her early teens."
In a direct appeal to the mother he said: "I understand you may be in circumstances where it is not possible to make a phone call to the police. If that is the case I would urge you to take into your confidence someone you can trust - maybe a doctor, a clergyman or a school teacher and have them report this."
He promised she would be treated with "utmost sympathy" by police.
During their year-long investigation police have interviewed hundreds of people in their effort to identify the child and his mother.
Hundreds of women who were pregnant in the months before the child was found have been ruled out of the inquiry and DNA testing has been carried out on nearly 200 people. Testing had been voluntary and Mr Edgar said they were not yet thinking about a mass screening operation.
Clergymen from three denominations carried out a short funeral service ahead of the burial. It was attended by several dozen police officers and a handful of local people, together with representatives of the council.
Presbyterian Minister the Rev John Murdock asked mourners: "Why did it happen, a new life cut short cruelly and so quickly."
He added: "Ministers from three denominations have come together to commit this child to God and try to bring comfort to the whole community. People feel saddened and frustrated that nothing is known of the parents of this baby or where he comes from."
The funeral was funded by local businesses giving their services free. Money which police had collected or received in donations from the public to provide a funeral was being donated to a children's charity.
PA