Tavia Michaela. Pic: UTV
A toddler that was found dead in a house in Co Tyrone at the weekend has been named locally as Tavia Michaela.
The young girl, who was due to turn two this month, was discovered in a property in the Windmill Court area of Dungannon on Sunday.
Three people – a man and two women – all aged in their 20s were arrested by the PSNI and remain in custody.
Police are treating the child’s death as suspicious.
Roy Setiawan, chair of the Timorese Association Inclusive Support, said the community was “heartbroken”.
He told the BBC: “It’s just a shock to the whole community, the East Timorese community, but also it’s disturbing for the whole community of Dungannon.
“It is just really sad and I would like to reach out to our community and the wider community to express our condolences and our deepest sympathy to those who are mentally and physically affected by this tragic incident.”
SDLP Dungannon councillor Karol McQuade said the local community has been left “in a state of shock” as a result of the “devastating news”.
“For a child to lose its life is an absolute tragedy and my thoughts and prayers go out to everyone affected by this death. It is hard to find the words when it comes to a situation like this,” cllr McQuade said.
“Police are investigating and I would urge the public to give them the time and space they need to carry out their investigation. The most important thing now is establishing what happened here and this is an incredibly sensitive situation.”
