Body of six-year-old boy found in car in Ireland

A woman in her 30s has been arrested near the scene.

A garda car parked close to the scene in the Rathmoylan area of Dunmore East, Co Waterford (Brian Lawless/PA) (PA Wire)

Irish police are investigating the death of a six-year-old boy whose body was found in a car in Co Waterford.

The discovery was made in the Rathmoylan area in the early hours of Friday morning shortly after midnight.

A woman in her 30s was arrested near the scene in Dunmore East and is being detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 at a police station in Co Waterford.

The boy’s body was removed to Waterford University Hospital for a post-mortem examination.

The scene was preserved for forensic examination and the local Coroner and Office of the State Pathologist were notified.

Irish police said inquiries are ongoing and the results of the post-mortem examination will determine the course of the investigation.

The technical bureau, which collects and analyses evidence, arrived at the scene at approximately 12.30pm.

Police conducted searches of road verges around a property in the area on Friday afternoon.

The car was removed from the scene at approximately 3pm.

Local man Frank O’Neill said people in the quiet and isolated seaside area were “startled and upset”.

“It’s a sad occasion. It’s heartbreaking to listen to,” he added.