VIDEOS: Family pet may be linked to schoolboy's sudden death in Newtownabbey

By Bob Huggins

Police are investigating the sudden death of an 10-year-old boy in Newtownabbey on the outskirts of Belfast.

Paramedics were called to a house on Queen's Avenue in Newtownabbey at around midday on Sunday.

The ambulance service said the boy had lacerations and was taken to the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children.

Neighbour Amanda Mullen describes distressing scenes at Queen's Avenue, Glengormley after death of 11-year-old boy pic.twitter.com/3j4EuaL93U

— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) October 15, 2017

(Neighbour Amanda Mullen)

A post mortem examination will be carried out on the little boy.

A neighbour told Q Radio that the boy was taken from the property heavily bandaged and placed in an ambulance.

One line of inquiry is believed to be that the child may have been attacked by the family's German Shepherd dog.

Forensic officers have been inside the house and police have cordoned off the area around it.

Forensic officers at scene of death of 11-year-old in Newtownabbey. PSNI investigates if family dog killed the boy. pic.twitter.com/30lsMAZvfj

— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) October 15, 2017

(Forensic officers remove evidence from the house as they investigate if a family dog killed the young boy)

SDLP councillor Noreen McClelland says people in the area had been left deeply shocked after the "absolute tragedy" in what is a "quiet and tight-knit community".

"There are no words to describe the horror in this community - people are just devastated," she added.

"My thoughts and prayers are with the child's family and friends at this horrendous time," she added.