THE baby stabbed to death in Belfast has been named as Liam O’Keefe.
The tragedy unfolded on Tuesday night in the Ardoyne area of the city, when two children were stabbed.
Emergency services had been alerted to the incident around 8.15pm after neighbours heard screams from inside the house.
Officers and emergency services were on the scene within moments and found the two injured children in a home in Brompton Park.
PRONOUNCED DEAD AT SCENE
Sadly eight-week-old Liam was pronounced dead at the scene, while his two-year-old big sister remains in hospital with her father by her bedside.
He was in England working at the time of the attack and was phoned with the news that his new son had died.
A woman arrested was taken to hospital but has since been taken into custody by officers.
The PSNI issued a statement this morning saying: “Police have named the baby boy who was murdered at a house in Brompton Park in North Belfast on Tuesday 27 July as Liam O’Keefe.”
SUSPECT BEING QUESTIONED
Detective Chief Inspector Miller from the PSNI’s Major Investigation Team said: “A 29-year-old woman arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder has now been released from hospital and transferred to police custody for questioning.
“The other young child injured during this incident remains in hospital where her condition is described as stable.
“I would like to thank the community for their unwavering support and patience while we continue our investigation into the tragic events of Tuesday evening and I continue to ask that anyone who has any information to contact us on 101 quoting reference number 1787 of 27/07/21.”
On Thursday the PSNI were continuing to carry out door to door enquiries as a police car remained parked in front of the cordoned off house.
Former boxer Eamonn Magee, who lives locally, was one of a number of people who came to spend a moment of reflection near the cordoned-off house.
His own son, Eamonn Junior, was stabbed to death aged 22 in a cowardly street attack six years ago.
The one-time Commonwealth welterweight champ said he had been friends with the slain baby’s father for some time, telling the Irish Sun: “I saw him just two weeks ago. My heart goes out to him.
“I’m going to get up and see him later today because he had a long journey back yesterday and I didn’t want to bother him.”
Local people were set to gather for a vigil on Brompton Park at 7.30pm on Thursday.
Relatives have spoken of their heartbreak as they paid tribute to little Liam.
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One relative said: “Let’s light Facebook up for our beautiful angel who lost his life and for our beautiful cousin who is fighting for her life in ICU.”
She went on to urge people not to speculate on what happened to let “our whole family circle grieve.”
Another loved one said: “The family is all heartbroken.”
