ARAS MARKS DAY
MICHAEL D Higgins hosted a reception at Aras an Uachtarain yesterday to mark the 30th anniversary of HIV Ireland and World AIDS Day.
Mum Laura Heath and Timothy Busk A HEAD teacher has paid tribute to Hakeem Hussain, the boy found frozen to death, describing him as a “generous soul” and a “friend to many”. Paramedics discovered sevenyear-old Hakeem dead at a house in Nechells, Birmingham, just after 7.30am on Sunday.
Julie Wright, of Nechells Primary school, said Hakeem, was a “beautiful little boy” with “a wicked sense of humour and infectious giggle”. He had been “talented across many areas of the curriculum, but especially so in music and the arts”. She said Hakeem “stole the show” as the “Christmas Star” in last year’s nativity play. Ms Wright said: “There wasn’t a dry eye in the house as he delivered his lines.” She added: “Hakeem will be sorely missed by us all.” A postmortem yesterday proved inconclusive, and tests will be done to establish just how Hakeem died. It is believed he had been outdoors for some time and had succumbed to hypothermia.
His mother, who was named locally as Laura Heath, 35, is thought to have been living with her uncle, Timothy Busk, 56. He was arrested on suspicion of wilfully ill-treating a child, while she was held on suspicion of wilful neglect. Both were released while inquiries continue. Det Insp Jim Munro said it was “a tragic case”.