Gardaí in Co Limerick have located a woman who had been renting a house where the body of a newborn baby was found in an attic more than three weeks ago.
Gardaí leading the investigation confirmed yesterday that the body of the baby girl was discovered in a house in the Rathkeale area on July 5th last.
The body of the infant was found wrapped in a blanket in the attic by the owner of the house in the townland of Blossom Hill after the previous tenants had moved out.
Gardaí confirmed yesterday that they had located and spoken to the mother of the infant - a woman in her 20s from Co Limerick who has two other children.
The Health Service Executive in the midwest has also been informed and is liaising with gardaí about appropriate services for the mother.
The woman moved out of the house just days before the baby's body was discovered. She has since been rehoused in local authority housing elsewhere in Co Limerick.
The body of the baby was badly decomposed when it was found by the landlord and it is believed it may have been in the attic for several months before it was discovered.
Gardaí said yesterday that the mother had gone through a very difficult time in her personal life and it is understood that she gave birth to the child alone in the house. They said that the owner was preparing the house for new tenants when the discovery was made.
Gardaí in Askeaton, Co Limerick, said yesterday they were satisfied that the baby had not died in violent circumstances, following their preliminary investigations.
However, they added that they were awaiting further details of a pathologist's report following a postmortem examination.
"While we are dealing with this as compassionately as possible, the circumstances leading up to the birth and the baby's concealment are being investigated," said Supt Joe Roe.
Gardaí said they were awaiting further details of the pathologist's report before deciding on whether to prepare a file on the matter for the Director of Public Prosecutions.