DETECTIVES probing the death of a 10-day-old baby boy injured in Lusk in Co Dublin expect to receive vital forensic and technical evidence from their crime-scene investigation team today.

John McCarthy was rushed by car to Our Lady of Lourdes hospital in Drogheda in the early hours of Friday morning by his father Martin and several friends.

The infant died just after 2am and preliminary post-mortem results by state pathologist Marie Cassidy have found that he suffered a serious head injury as well as bruising to the brain and body. Martin and his wife Winnie were visiting friends at a house in Scholars Walk, Lusk, when the infant sustained his injuries.

The emergency services were contacted but by the time they arrived, the child had already been taken to hospital.

The eight adults at the house have all since given similar statements to gardaí stating that the child had some form of accident at the house. Detectives are examining these statements in detail.

It is thought that three children were also in the house.

Winnie and John Mc­Carthy, who live at the St Francis Park halting site in Navan, Co Meath, have two other children, aged two and three.

For the time being, their two other children remain in their care. The couple were being comforted by friends and relatives this weekend.

A scene-of-crime investigation by the technical bureau will continue at least until tomorrow evening. Door-to-door enquiries with neighbours in the area are also being carried out.

A senior garda source said no arrests were imminent, but progress in the investigation is expected early this week. "It will be a slow and tedious investigation. Every possibility of what could have happened to this child will have to be looked at in detail," added the source.

"It will not be rushed. The death of a child this young has to be dealt with sensitively." The investigation is being led by superintendent Joe Kelly at Balbriggan garda station.

The eight adults in the house in Lusk where the infant sustained injuries have cooperated fully with gardaí. The baby's parents are said to be in an extremely distraught state.