Police launch investigation after boy (3) is found dead at his home
POLICE are investigating the circumstances surrounding the sudden death of a three-year-old boy in Londonderry.
Kayden McLaughlin was discovered dead in bed in his Columbcille Court home in the Bogside yesterday morning.
Police were called at 10am and sealed off the area surrounding his mother’s flat as investigations began into what caused the death of the child.
Officers could be seen outside the house yesterday afternoon.
Devastated friends and family gathered at the police cordon, many in tears, as news of the young boy’s death filtered through the community.
Kayden’s uncle, Michael McLaughlin, said the family was numb following the death of the youngster.
“We are not sure what happened,” he said.
“Kayden was just a lively wee fella. “He loved life. “He was a character. “He played about, he was always climbing. “Our family are very upset. “We are just numb at the moment.”
Sinn Fein Assembly member Karen Mullan said that the closeknit community in the Bogside was distraught over the news.
“This is just shocking, particularly in terms of the little boy’s age,” she said.
“I know there is no more information about what happened at this stage but the community down there will be distraught. “It is just so tragic. “There would be a lot of families who live in there and have lived there for years.
“It is a very close-knit community.
“It is just shocking to wake up to this tragic news this morning.
“It’s awful, it’s so scary. My heart and my sympathy goes out to all the family.”
A spokesman for the PSNI said that a post mortem examination will be carried out.
“Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the sudden death of a young child in the Bogside area of Derry/Londonderry on Sunday morning,” they said.
“Police received the report shortly after 10am.
“A post mortem examination will take place to determine the cause of death.
“There are no further details available at this time.”