Baby named as Lucan community ‘asleep’ after tragic double death of nurse and baby

A tragic nurse was found dead under the M50 toll bridge yesterday, just hours before her young son was discovered unresponsive at home.

The body of Nicola Keane, who was in her 30s, was located on Lower Road in Strawberry Beds near Lucan, Co Dublin.

She had been seen behaving erratically in the area at 3.45am. A source said last night: “This is a terrible tragedy. Gardai is not looking for anyone else. The baby’s autopsy will determine which path the investigation will take. “

When her body was later found downstairs, Gardai managed to identify her and went to her home on Shackleton Way, about 15 minutes away.

There they found Nicola’s seven-month-old son, Henry, unconscious. He was later confirmed dead at the scene.

A source added that the boy’s autopsy was deemed inconclusive, adding: “Asphyxia, but it may have been an accident.”

Officers treat the incident as a family tragedy and are not looking for anyone in connection with the incident.

Lucan detectives found no signs of violence or evidence of violent death when they conducted a forensic examination of the home.

It is understood that when the house was called, Nicola’s partner was asleep and was awakened by the gardai.

It was then that the baby’s body was discovered in the house. The devastated man did not know that the baby was dead.

A source said: “This is a terrible, terrible tragedy. A family tragedy. Gardai is not looking for anyone else. The baby’s autopsy will determine which path the investigation will take. “

A person who knew Nicola in Ballina described the deaths as “absolutely devastating news.”

Nicola is believed to have moved from her native Ballina, Co Mayo, to live in Dublin more than six years ago with her partner.

Another woman described her as a “kind and considerate” person.

Local people in Ballina were said to have been stunned and numb from the tragic deaths – he had been a choir singer before moving to Dublin.

The next door neighbors in Lucan were too shocked to speak to the Irish Mirror last night.

The new development was full of young families and several houses were decorated for Halloween.

The baby’s body has been transferred to Crumlin Hospital, while his mother was taken to the city’s Morgue, where they will both undergo post-mortem examinations.

The result of the autopsy will determine the course of the Garda investigation.

Gardai was conducting door-to-door investigations last night.

A Garda spokesperson said: “Gardaí is conducting an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the discovery of a woman’s body in Lower Road, Strawberry Beds, Lucan, Co Dublin and the unexplained death of a child in a house in Lucan. Co. Dublin on October 22, 2020.

“At approximately 3.45 am on October 22, 2020, following reports of a pedestrian seen acting suspiciously on the M50 bridge (toll plaza), Gardaí discovered the body of a woman on Lower Road, Strawberry Beds.

“After this incident, Gardaí went to a house in Lucan where they found a 7-month-old baby who was not responding. He was pronounced dead at the scene shortly thereafter.

“An incident room has been set up at Lucan Garda station and a technical examination of the scene has been carried out. The coroner and the state pathologist’s office have been notified.

“The baby’s body has been transferred to Crumlin Hospital and the woman’s body has been transferred to the city’s morgue, where post-mortem examinations will be carried out.

“The results of the post-mortem examinations will determine the course of the Garda’s investigations.

“At this stage, Gardaí investigators are treating these incidents as a family tragedy and are not currently looking for anyone else in connection with the deaths.

“No additional information is available at this time. Investigations are ongoing.”

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