15 Sep 2011

Baby murder probe as father found dead

A baby who died after being found with his dead father at a house in Lancashire is named.

Baby Ollie McBride murder probe as father found dead

Ollie McBride was found in a “very poorly condition” at a house in Preston and was rushed to hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

His father, taxi driver Paul McBride 39, was found dead at his mother’s house in Preston, Lancashire following a search.

Police have launched a murder investigation but say they are not looking for anybody else in connection with the incident.

Neighbours described Mr McBride as “jolly” and “jokey”, but police and family members had begun looking for him after concerns were raised about his welfare.

His sister found his body after arriving at their mother’s home in Marl Hill Crescent, Ribbleton, shortly after 6pm on Wednesday.

The baby’s mother, Michaela Swain, who was not married to Mr McBride, was being supported by police.

In a statement, she said: “No words I could ever write could express how much I love my beautiful baby boy Ollie. Goodnight sweetheart, sweet dreams. Mummy loves you.”

A post-mortem examination will take place to establish how the child died.

‘Incredibly tragic’ case

A police spokeswoman said: “Officers were called to an incident at an address in the Ribbleton area of Preston at around 6.15pm.

“On arrival, a man was found dead and a six-month-old boy was in a very poorly condition. He was taken to the Royal Preston Hospital where he sadly died.”

Detective Superintendent Neil Esseen, who is leading the investigation, said it was an “incredibly tragic” case.

“It is being treated as a murder inquiry, although we are not looking for anybody else in connection with this incident.

“We are still in the very early stages of this investigation, but we are conducting a number of inquiries in order to establish the exact circumstances surrounding the deaths.”