Family celebrates safe return of missing baby

The parents and family of 20-month-old child Savannah McNally were last night celebrating her safe return in what her mother …

The parents and family of 20-month-old child Savannah McNally were last night celebrating her safe return in what her mother described as a "dream come true".

The mother, Ms Anne Marie McNally, said as it began to get dark yesterday afternoon she started to worry she would never see the child again. "I was worried she was gone, completely gone."

She described the woman who took her as a "silly girl" who should apologise to her and the family for their ordeal. "At least she looked after her, I suppose," she added.

The family's worries were exacerbated because Savannah has a serious kidney condition which is due to be operated on after Christmas. The woman who took the baby left her medication behind in the house.

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It was unclear last night why the baby had been taken. Garda∅ were continuing to question a woman at Newbridge Garda station. A second woman, also questioned, was released last night. A file is being sent to the DPP.

After Savannah was recovered she was examined by doctors in Portlaoise Hospital and found to be unharmed.

The child was last seen on Monday morning by a neighbour of the McNallys going down the street with her babysitter, who has been living with the family for the last few weeks in the Oaks estate on the outskirts of the town.

When her mother returned home on Monday evening after a weekend break, she found the baby missing and contacted the Garda. A widespread search was started. The baby was spotted by a shopper at lunchtime yesterday in Portlaoise Shopping Centre. Garda∅ said the child was with two women, one 18 years old and the other 19. The shopper recognised the baby's pink blanket, referred to in earlier press reports.

Garda sources said there was no sign the women were in a rush to travel elsewhere. The child is understood to have spent Monday night in a house in Athy, with one or both of the women.