A YOUNG CHILD has died and a toddler and a woman are fighting for their lives in hospital following a stabbing in a remote farmhouse by the shores of Larne Lough.
A woman in her thirties, believed to be the children's mother, was in a critical condition in the Royal Victoria Hospital along with the toddler last night.
The child who died is thought to be aged around three, while the sibling is around 18 months.
The stabbing happened at a rented farmhouse on Bankhall Road in Magheramorne on the outskirts of Larne.
Ambulances and police were called to the scene at around 10.30am yesterday.
It is understood the woman, named locally as Fiona Magowan, was being treated for self-inflicted injuries.
Police released few details about the circumstances of the child's death yesterday.
However, they confirmed it was a domestic incident and said they were not looking for anyone else in connection with the death.
"Police can confirm that an investigation has commenced into the circumstances surrounding the death of a young child in the Larne area today," a spokeswoman said.
"A woman in her thirties and a baby are currently receiving hospital treatment for injuries.
"The investigation is at an early stage and police are currently not looking for anyone else in connection with the death."
Ms Magowan is thought to have been working as a nurse in a nearby hospital.
A spokesman for the Ambulance Service said it sent three ambulances, a rapid response paramedic and an ambulance officer to the scene yesterday morning.
The charity air ambulance was also called to the scene.
It is understood Ms Magowan and at least one of the children were airlifted to hospital.
Police forensic officers were at the house for most of yesterday.
Neighbours along the Bankhall Road yesterday said they were stunned that their peaceful rural area had been hit by tragedy.
Neighbour Tommy Kernohan, who lives around 200 metres down the road, said he heard the air ambulance land in a field close to the house yesterday morning.
"I thought it was something like a shooting," he said.
"The people who live there have been renting the house for a few months. I don't know them at all. I didn't even know there were children in the house."
Another neighbour said she understood the woman was living in the house with her husband, a farmer.
It is understood the woman who owns the house had moved to Scotland several years ago and had attempted to sell it.
The farmhouse is at the end of a lane, close to a quarry where many scenes in Game of Thrones were filmed.
Alliance councillor Danny Donnelly said it was an "awful tragedy".
"Clearly the details are very, very shocking and very tragic," he said.
"My thoughts are with the families affected.
"I know that the whole community will be shocked by this incident. It's a very close-knit community. I am grateful that the emergency services were there."
DUP assembly member Gordon Lyons said it was clear "something horrific" had happened.
"It is absolutely awful when you hear of anybody suffering in this kind of way but when young children are involved it is particularly horrific," he said.
He said his thoughts and prayers are with the family.
