Missing baby found in stolen car

The baby's father had been in the cemetery

A 10-month-old baby boy missing in Belfast for more than three hours has been found safe and well.

He had been asleep in a car which was stolen on Sunday morning.

The black Honda Civic car was taken shortly after 1000 BST.

It was parked outside the City Cemetery on the Falls Road, where his father had been tending a grave.

I just sat in the car and give him a taste of orange juice. He seemed happy enough

Mary McEvoy

Police discovered the stolen car in Nansen Street in west Belfast after receiving information from a member of the public.

The child's family are from west Belfast.

A couple spotted the car parked in Nansen Street, off the Falls Road.

Mary McEvoy said: "Before my husband's car stopped I had the door opened and was ready to jump out.

"He said to hold on because he had to park, but I just jumped out, saw the baby and got the baby out.

"I just sat in the car and give him a taste of orange juice. He seemed happy enough.

"As soon as the parents came, the mother was really crying and just ran over to the car and took the baby off me."

Mary McEvoy: Found the baby

A resident of Nansen Street, Pat McIlwee, said it was "unbelievable" that someone could get into a car and not notice a baby in it.

"It's incredible. To dump the baby in the middle of a street without saying anything to anybody - and just leaving the door and window open - anything could have happened."

The car was swiftly removed by the police and is being examined for fingerprints and other forensic evidence.