§ Mr. DoddsTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many suspicious deaths of infants there were in the Newtownabbey police area in each year since 2000, broken down by the stage the investigation has reached. [159568]
§ Jane KennedyThe Child Abuse and Rape Enquiry Unit (CARE) in Newtownabbey review all reports of sudden infant deaths. In 2001 one death was referred to the Coroner and in 2002 two deaths were referred; the Coroner directed no further action in all three cases. In 2003 one death was investigated and the matter has been referred to the Department of Public Prosecutions for direction.