Man and woman arrested on suspicion of murder after Limerick boy Mason O’Connell’s death released without charge
TWO people who were arrested on suspicion of murdering a four-year-old boy earlier this year have been released without charge.
Mason TJ O’Connell-Conway was found by gardai
The boy was pronounced dead at Children’s Hospital Ireland at Temple Street, on March 16.
For the past six months gardai have continued their enquiries into the boy’s death, initially investigating a theory that the boy sustained his injuries in a fall from a bunk bed.
Confirming the release of two persons who were arrested in connection with the boy’s death earlier this week, a garda spokesman said: "Gardai investigating the death of a 4-year-old boy in Limerick have released the two persons that were arrested on Thursday 12th August, 2021.
"Both the man, in his 30s, and the woman, in her 20s, who were detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984 were both released without charge and a file will now be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions. Investigations ongoing."
DEATH INQUEST
An inquest into the boy’s death, which opened at Dublin Corner’s Court last June, heard that he died from a traumatic head injury.
At the inquest hearing, Gardai were granted an adjournment under Section 25.1 of the Coroner’s Act, in light of the garda investigation continuing.
Gardai applied for the adjournment on the basis that the preparation of a file to the Director of Public Prosecutions was being considered.
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Commenting on the arrest of two persons who gardai suspect murdered the boy, Catherine Slattery, a local Fianna Fáil councillor, said: “My first reaction is shock; I’m shocked and devastated for the poor child and his loved ones.”
'INNOCENT CHILD'
“It’s absolutely heartbreaking, he was an innocent child with his whole life in front of him,” she added.
Speaking at Mason's funeral mass, Fr Tom Whelan told Mason’s family their son had captured “all hearts” in the tight knit rural community.
Mason’s parents and extended family members wore white t-shirts emblazoned with their son’s photograph, which read “Mason Forever 4”.
Mason’s favourite football and scarf along with a photograph of him, were placed on his coffin which was brought from his grandmother’s house in Castleconnell to the church, in a white carriage, drawn by two white horses.
Fr Whelan said Mason would be remembered in the local community for his love of “football, fishing and walks around the village”.
COMMUNITY IN SHOCK
Speaking last March, after the boy’s death, Ms Slattery expressed her sympathies to the boy’s family: “My heart goes out to the boy’s family, and the neighbours in the area who are all just in shock, it’s awful; very, very sad.”
Speaking at his son’s funeral mass, Mason’s father John Paul O’Connell wept while giving an emotional tribute to his deceased son, telling mourners, “our little superhero fought until his last breath and gained his (angel) wings”.
Mr O’Connell thanked staff at University Hospital Limerick, Cork University Hospital, and Childrens Hospital Ireland, Temple Street, “who worked around the clock and who tried their hardest to save our little man”.
“Our little man, Mason, had a family that extended for miles, on both my side and his mam’s side; you wouldn't have to spend two minutes with Mason and he would leave a memory that would last a lifetime. He was a loving, caring, energetic little man, who loved everyone, and he will continue to love and look over us all through this hard time.”
The village stopped in silence as up to 100 people gathered wearing face masks and walking behind the cortège to the church and later on to the local cemetery.
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More than €11,400 was raised to assist the family ahead of the funeral through the goFundMe website.
The fund is no longer receiving donations.