LAST UPDATE | 10 Sep 2022

GARDAÍ ARE INVESTIGATING the deaths of an infant and child in a car fire in Co Westmeath yesterday afternoon.

The car was discovered on a rural road at Lackan shortly after 4pm in the Multyfarnham area, where gardaí and emergency services attended the scene.

An infant boy was removed to hospital but was subsequently pronounced dead at the Midlands Regional Hospital in Mullingar.

The remains of an older girl were also discovered at the scene and brought to the Midlands Regional Hospital in Tullamore.

A woman has been taken by air ambulance to a Dublin hospital for treatment for burn injuries, which are understood to be serious but not life-threatening.

The Garda Technical Bureau and State Pathologist Dr Sally Ann Collis examined the scene and it was preserved overnight.

The car was removed and will be forensically examined further today.

Dr Collis is due to conduct post-mortems on both of the deceased children today and the Coroner has been notified.

Mullingar gardaí are investigating all circumstances surrounding the children’s deaths.

A Senior Investigating Officer (SIO) has been appointed to lead the investigation, with an incident room set up at Mullingar Garda Station.

“A Garda family liaison officer has been appointed and An Garda Síochána will continue to support the family involved in conjunction with other state agencies,” a garda statement said.

“An Garda Síochána is appealing to any person with any information in relation to this fatal incident to contact investigating Gardaí at Mullingar at 044 9384000, the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 11 or any Garda Station.”

Additional reporting by Lauren Boland