The Department of Justice confirmed that Gageby has officially begun his review of the death of Noleen Murphy "on the basis of all the available papers on what is known in relation to the case and the garda investigation to see if the public interest requires the matter to be taken further".

His completed report, to be presented to Lenihan, will recommend whether the circumstances surrounding the infant's death require further scrutiny.

Cynthia Owen, the woman identified at an inquest in February as the mother of the infant found stabbed to death in Dalkey 34 years ago, said she was pleased that the review has begun. "I'm delighted to hear that Mr Gageby has officially started his review, " Owen said through her solicitor, Gerry Dunne of O'Brien Dunne solicitors.

Former minister for justice Michael McDowell asked Gageby in February to look at the file in relation to the death following the inquest.

Following consultation with the Department of Justice and Owen's solicitor, the terms of reference of his inquiry were established. "Gageby has started his review. The next big thing is awaiting his report in the coming months. He's been in touch with us and we've passed on anything of relevance that he's requested. Essentially, he will be looking into the Garda handling of the affair, " Dunne told the Sunday Tribune.

An inquest jury unanimously found on 16 February that the baby, whose body was discovered in a laneway in Dun Laoghaire, was Owen's child.

Owen said she gave birth to the girl at the age of 11 in 1973 and has claimed the pregnancy was a result of sexual abuse in the family home at Whites Villas, Dalkey.

The jury at Dublin Coroner's Court also found that the infant had died at the family home in Dalkey and that the cause of death was haemorrhage due to stab wounds.

Meanwhile, a judicial review of coroner Dr Kieran Geraghty's findings taken by Owen's father and three of her sisters was adjourned on Tuesday at the High Court until 17 July.

The four are challenging the coroner's findings that Owen is the mother of the infant.