Alliance Castlereagh Councillor Geraldine Rice has said that the police plan to carry out voluntary DNA testing as part of their investigation into the death of a baby in Carryduff recently.
The body was discovered by children playing behind Lough Moss Leisure Centre in Carryduff on March 26.
Speaking after a PSNI briefing to local political and church representatives, Councillor Rice said there would be a public meeting to discuss the matter on May 23 at the Lough Moss Centre.
Cllr Rice said: “This was a very sad death of a newborn baby. It is not only important that the police catch this child’s killer, but that the mother receives any medical attention she might require.”
“I would encourage the mother to come forward to help with inquiries. Police have assured those at the meeting that they will treat the mother with sympathy, as no-one knows what the exact circumstances of the death were. They are very concerned about her welfare.”
Cllr Rice said that people will be asked to come forward and give DNA samples from Monday 27 May.
“The police will be assuring the public that this information will not be kept for any other purpose other than profiling for this case, and the samples will be destroyed afterwards. This is not a woman-hunt. It is a criminal investigation into a tragic death, and the only people who can help lay this distressing case to rest are those in the local community.”
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