Northern Ireland

Three charged following death of one-year-old in Dungannon

Officers named the 23-month-old victim as Tavia Michella Ximenes Da Costa.

Undated family handout photo issued by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) of Tavia Michella Ximenes Da Costa. Detectives in Northern Ireland have launched a murder investigation following her death in Co Tyrone.
Undated family handout photo issued by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) of Tavia Michella Ximenes Da Costa. Detectives in Northern Ireland have launched a murder investigation following her death in Co Tyrone. (Family Handout/PA)
By Jonathan McCambridge and Jessica Coates, PA

Three people have been charged following the death of a child in Co Tyrone, police have said.

It follows the launch of a murder inquiry into death of 23-month-old Tavia Michella Ximenes Da Costa in Dungannon.

The PSNI said a 29-year-old man has been charged with murder and cruelty to children while a 21-year-old woman is facing charges of manslaughter, causing or allowing the death of a child or vulnerable person and child cruelty.

A 24-year-old woman has been charged with causing or allowing the death of a child or vulnerable person and cruelty to children.

Emergency services attended the scene in the Windmill Court area of Dungannon, Co Tyrone
Emergency services attended the scene in the Windmill Court area of Dungannon, Co Tyrone (Liam McBurney/PA)

The toddler was due to turn two later this month and has connections to the East Timorese community in Dungannon.

Join the Irish News Whatsapp channel

All three are due to appear at Strabane Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.

Detective Chief Inspector Anthony Kelly said: “Police, along with the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service, responded to the report of the sudden death of a child in the Windmill Court area of the town on Sunday morning, October 13.

“Sadly, Tavia, who was just weeks away from her second birthday, was pronounced dead at the scene.”