Ukrainian girl seriously injured in suspected stabbing had just started school in Clare

The girl, who is believed to be eight, is fighting for her life in hospital after suffering suspected stab wounds yesterday morning.

The child’s mother was also discovered unconscious at the domestic residence and remains in a critical condition.

The house was being used as emergency accommodation.

A major investigation is now under way to establish exactly what happened at the property in the village of Clarecastle, located at Abbeyclare on the outskirts of Ennis.

It is understood the mother and daughter are Ukrainian nationals who recently moved into the extended property, which is accommodating up to 15 refugees who fled the war-torn country.

It is understood the girl started in the local primary school just weeks ago.

She was discovered with serious injuries, including multiple suspected stab wounds to the neck, and was removed to University Hospital Limerick.

Independent.ieunderstands the child was later transferred with a garda escort to a specialist hospital in Dublin after concerns about weather conditions meant she could not be airlifted.

Her mother, aged in her mid-40s, was found unconscious at the scene and was brought to the Limerick hospital, where she remains in a critical condition.

It is understood investigators are awaiting a toxicology report on the woman to determine the cause of her collapse.

Locals told Independent.iethey did not know any of the residents as the house only became occupied in recent weeks after lying derelict for years.

“I have seen a couple of children going in and out. If she is the child I am thinking of, she is a lovely little thing,” said one local woman.

“They are only here for maybe three or four weeks.

“But you wouldn’t see them out playing in the front because it’s on the main road.

“There is definitely a large group living there, though, but nobody would know them.

“I don’t know what to say or even think about what I am hearing. I didn’t realise anything happened until I saw all the guards outside.

“There are a lot of elderly people living along this stretch of the road and this is just the last thing you want to happen. It would make you afraid.

“The poor child. I hope we get good news about her.

“It’s a shock. And even the guards looked very shook,” she added.

Another neighbour said: “I couldn’t tell you how many people are living there, but I have seen several children and a few men coming and going.

“I have never seen any women.

“Nobody locally would really know anyone living there because it is only recently occupied again.

“It has been renovated for a long time. I suspect there are a few families there because the kitchen is at the front, and it’s like a communal kitchen.”

An investigation into the incident is being led by detectives at Ennis garda station, while a senior garda has been appointed to oversee the inquiry.

Specialist detectives are also involved in the investigation because of the age of the child.

Gardaí have appointed a liaison officer to assist the family, and the scene remains sealed off to facilitate an examination by the Divisional Scenes of Crime Unit.

One source said the scene of the incident was “highly distressing for first responders”.

A garda spokesman said: “Shortly before 8am this morning, Tuesday, September 27, 2022, gardaí and emergency services attended a scene a domestic residence in Clarecastle, Co Clare.

“A female child was discovered with serious injuries and was removed to University Hospital Limerick, where she remains in a critical condition.

“A female adult was also found unconscious at the scene, and was removed to University Hospital Limerick where she is also in a critical condition.

“An incident room has been established at Ennis garda station and a senior investigating officer has been appointed to oversee the investigation.

“A family liaison officer has been appointed to the family.

“The scene currently remains preserved, and the scene is currently being examined by the Divisional Scenes of Crime Unit.

“This is a live, and ongoing investigation, and no further information is available at this time.

“An Garda Síochána are appealing for anyone with any information on this incident to contact the investigation team at Ennis garda station (on) 065 6848100, the Garda Confidential Line (on) 1800 666 111 or any garda station. Enquires are ongoing.”

Clare Civil Defence personnel and an interpreter were called to assist gardaí at the scene yesterday morning.

The remaining occupants of the property have since been transferred to an emergency refugee accommodation centre in Ennis.

Clare Civil Defence has been providing emergency accommodation for people displaced by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine for the past number of months.

Gardaí remained at the scene last night and continued door-to-door enquiries in the area to determine if anyone heard or saw anything relevant to their inquiry.

Several local representatives declined to comment on the incident when contacted.