Baby's Murder Leaves 'Heartbreak'

The horrific murder of a toddler in Co Fermanagh is still being investigated while her family have been left "heartbroken and numb with pain".

The North's Serious Crime Unit has been granted an extra 24 hours more to quiz the 30-years-old man alleged to be linked with the death of a child in Glebe Park, Enniskillen.

Officers were initially granted an extra 36 hours to question the man after an application to Omagh but last night they revealed they had been granted one more day.

The 15-month-old child Millie Martin was attacked and badly beaten at her home last Thursday, and left seriously ill, with possibly her back being broken.

The baby was taken with her mother to the Erne Hospital and later she was transferred to the Royal Victoria Hospital's Intensive Care Unit, where finally she died on Friday.

Although Millie was not on a child protection register at the time of her death, her family may have been known to social services.

The police are now counting on social workers' help with the inquiries with their suspect, who comes from Irvinestown area and is believed to be her father.

Meanwhile, the scene remains sealed off for forensic examination.

Today, senior staff in the Western Trust will review the case and to ensure that its contacts with the family were appropriate and thorough.

At the moment, police have refused to disclose the results of post mortem tests on the baby's body but a spokeswoman stated the details were being withheld for operational reasons.

Millie's family appealed for privacy to cope with their grief they said "no words could describe the distress they were going through".

Its statement said: "We will never, ever forget you, Millie, but know that you are in the safe arms of Jesus."

Chairman of Fermanagh District Council Robert Irvine explained the true extent of Millie's death has "not yet sunk in" for people in the area.

Also SDLP Councillor Frank Britton said understandably "people are in a state of disbelief about what has happened".

He added a sense of shock still prevailed not only in Enniskillen but also across Fermanagh.

Detectives have asked for any witness saw anything untoward in the area early on Thursday evening to contact them.

(CL/BMcC)