Murder investigation into death of boy (7) opened

A murder investigation was opened at the weekend after a seven-year-old boy was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at Waterford Regional Hospital from his home in Co Kilkenny.

A woman was taken into custody after Robert Costello, of Deerpark, Mullinavat, was discovered in a collapsed state at his home on Saturday afternoon.

A post-mortem carried out later that evening by the deputy State pathologist, Dr Marie Cassidy, confirmed "he did not die of natural causes", said Supt Michael McGarry of Waterford station. However, the exact cause of death was not being made public at this stage, he said.

Robert's two younger brothers, Martin (3) and Stephen (18 months), were last night in the care of the South Eastern Health Board.

The three boys and their mother had moved into Deer park, a secluded residential area on the Waterford side of Mullinavat, a fortnight ago. For some weeks previously they had been living in sheltered accommodation in Waterford city.

The alarm was raised at about 3 p.m. on Saturday by a caller to the Costellos' home, believed by neighbours to be a Jehovah's Witness, who rang the emergency services from a nearby house.

Supt McGarry said an ambulance was on the scene very quickly. A 29-year-old woman was arrested at 7.30 p.m. and taken to Waterford Garda station for questioning under Section Four of the Criminal Justice Act. The initial 12-hour detention period was extended yesterday.

Neighbours said the Costellos appeared to be a quiet family.

Before moving into the Oasis House shelter in Waterford in mid-September, the family had lived at Woodlawn Grove, also in the city. The boys' mother was originally from Kilmacow, south Kilkenny, and had been anxious to move her family to that area.

She had been visited in recent weeks by a representative of the community welfare section of Kilkenny County Council, it was learned last night. The council had been seeking accommodation for her.

It could not be confirmed, however, whether it was the council or relatives who had found her the rented bungalow in Mullinavat, about two miles from her family home.

A public representative with whom she had been in contact said the woman was obviously in a distressed state and her overriding concern appeared to be the welfare of her children. She was estranged from her partner, the father of her three children.

News of the tragedy was greeted with shock in both Mullinavat and Kilmacow, where the woman's parents still live. Her father was originally from south Kilkenny and returned to the area with his wife more than 20 years ago, after getting married in England.

"They are a well respected, popular family," an acquaintance of the family said. "When I heard it on the news today I realised who they were talking about. Nobody can believe this has happened."