Gardaí using DNA technology and CCTV in bid to identify mother of Balbriggan baby

Gardaí are hoping that DNA technology will help them to identify the mother of a baby whose body was found on a Dublin beach over the weekend.

The baby girl's remains were found on Bell's Beach in Balbriggan by a passerby at around 10am on Saturday morning. They were discovered wrapped in a cloth and partially buried. A post-mortem showed that the baby, who has been named 'Belle' by Gardaí, was stillborn at full term and was on the beach for less than 24 hours. Gardaí will now compare DNA from the baby's remains with the national DNA database to try and establish a match and hopefully identify her mother. They will also review CCTV from the area as it's believed the body had not washed up on the beach but was left there. Authorities have said that they have received a number of calls from members of the public in relation to Belle's discovery. Appealing for Belle's mother to come forward, Gardaí have emphasised that she is not in any trouble and that they are not conducting a criminal investigation into the baby's death. Dr Rhona Mahony, Master of the National Maternity Hospital, said yesterday that there is real concern over the mother's welfare. "We will speak to her in absolute confidence," she said "Our primary motivation is care for her, so she need not be concerned in relation to Gardaí or being in trouble or being given out to, and we will absolutely deal with her in confidence. "Even if she just wants to talk to us. Our primary concern is her physical health and mental health."