You have nothing to fear...
Mother of abandoned girl urged to come forward
THE mother of a baby girl found abandoned at the side of a country road has been told she has ‘nothing to fear’ in coming forward.
Named ‘Maria’ by staff at the Coombe hospital, the newborn was said to be ‘doing well’ there last night.
The baby was discovered on Friday inside a black plastic bag at the side of the Steelstown Road in Rathcoole, Co. Kildare, by a couple who were driving by.
Superintendent Brendan Connolly said yesterday that gardaí were ‘very concerned’ for the welfare of the child’s mother.
He said: ‘We are appealing for her to seek immediate medical attention and to contact gardaí as we are anxious to reunite her with her baby. This mum has nothing to fear. We’re here to help and the matter will be dealt with compassionately and sensitively.’
Gardaí yesterday displayed replicas of items found with the baby, including a black bin-liner, a green paper Marks & Spencer bag, a small baby-blue cloth and a pale brown fleece blanket.
The fleece throw had a Primark Home label.
Gardaí urged the mother to come forward in the hope that they can reunite her with her daughter. And they assured her that she has nothing to fear.
‘Somebody out there must recognise these items and we are appealing to anyone who can assist us to contact us here in Clondalkin Garda station,’ said Supt Connolly, alongside Sergeant Maeve O’Sullivan.
Last night gardaí said they had already received calls after the renewed appeal but have yet to identify the newborn’s mother.
Superintendent Connolly: ‘ She [the baby] is being cared for in hospital and An Garda Síochána is working closely with the HSE and Tusla.’
He said that ‘based on medical opinion’, baby Maria may have been born 24-36 hours prior to her discovery.
The newborn was named by staff at the hospital on the feast day of St Maria Magdalena of Canossa. Sergeant Maeve O’Sullivan of the Child Protection Unit in Clondalkin and her staff are available at ‘any time’, Supt Connolly said.
‘Anyone, or indeed any family member or friends, wishing to speak with Sergeant O’Sullivan will be dealt with in the utmost discretion,’ he added. The original items discovered alongside the baby are being forensically examined and checked for fingerprints.
According to Supt Connolly, the baby was discovered by a young couple who had pulled into the gateway. ‘They discovered the bag and heard the child whimpering. The child was very cold but she was wrapped in the throw in the bag,’ he added.
Baby Maria was taken to Tallaght Hospital before being transferred to the Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital in Dublin, where she was in a stable condition last night.
Superintendent Connolly refused to speculate if the child was born at home or in hospital. He also said that Maria is a ‘Caucasian child’.
He said gardaí had yet to establish if the baby was born locally, adding: ‘I don’t believe that the child was there for any extended period of time.’
He added that gardaí were ‘relieved’ the baby was found by a young couple so quickly after she was abandoned. Rita Byrne, principal social worker with Child and Family Agency Tusla, said it was working closely with the Garda Child Protection Unit.
She said: ‘We can look at supports we can offer the mother into the future but at the moment we are desperately anxious that she make contact as soon as possible.
‘Our hope is that mammy will come forward, and obviously we will be seeking legal advice in relation to baby Maria.’
Gardaí at Clondalkin Garda Station have appealed for anyone who has any information to cont act t hem i n Clondalkin on 01 6667600 or on the confidential line 1800 666 111.
‘She is being cared for in hospital’