'There's a real sense of shock': New Ross 'left numb' after death of ...

The girl has been named locally as Malikika Al Katib.

A man and a woman who were also injured in the incident were treated for non-life-threatening injuries, and gardaí said they were not looking for anyone else in relation to their probe. 

The man is understood to be from the Middle East while the woman is from the South East of the country.

The child was rushed to University Hospital Waterford on Sunday night, but died there in the early hours of Monday morning.

No arrest in the case had been made on Monday night.

Gardaí are trying to establish the circumstances which led to the girl being stabbed, including whether or not she was the intended target in the incident.

Speaking on Tuesday, New Ross local area representative Cllr John Dwyer said there was devastation in the area at the news of the girl's death.

“We're left numb at the news that started to emerge in the early hours of yesterday morning. It would be an understatement to say that. New Ross is a relatively small town, most people know one another in the town,” he told Newstalk Breakfast.

“Word started to filter through. I got a call very early yesterday morning from my daughter, who's a mother herself, asking me had I heard and was aware of the circumstances. And from that point forward, the phone never stopped ringing until I got a very distressing phone call from a young woman who was closely related to the child. And I will never forget that phone call.

“That person was desperately, desperately upset. It was one of the most horrific phone calls I’ve ever had in my life." 

Mr Dwyer said many people in New Ross would "have known this child and would have known the mother". 

"There are no words that could adequately describe how people are feeling. There's a real sense of shock. New Ross is a relatively small place. Things like this don't happen in towns like ours. But unfortunately, yesterday the nightmare began for us and for that poor family.” 

Mr Dwyer welcomed the critical incident plan put in place at the victim's school. 

“I can’t imagine how all those young children must be feeling and how their parents are attempting to deal with having to explain the horrific circumstances of how that poor child died.”

Forensic examination 

Gardaí were at the scene throughout Monday and undertook a forensic examination of the property. The services of the Garda Technical Bureau were requested while the Office of the State Pathologist was also notified.

As investigations were being carried out, the New Ross Educate Together primary school implemented its critical incident management plan to help its pupils as it emerged the dead child was a pupil at the school.

Principal Therese White said: “This is a terrible tragedy for the family, our school, and our community. We are deeply saddened by these events. Our sympathy and thoughts are with family and friends.” 

She said that representatives of the National Educational Psychological Service were in the school on Monday, and added: “Our teachers are helping students to deal with this tragic event".

Local Independent county councillor John Dwyer said his own grandchild knew the little girl as they had previously been classmates. He added: “People are dreadfully upset in New Ross.” 

Investigating gardaí are appealing to anyone who may have information is asked to contact New Ross Garda Station on 051 426 030, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any garda station.