Irish Police
The Irish Police force discovered the boy's body shortly before 2pm on 16 October. Wikimedia Commons/Mato

A woman was arrested after a two-year-old boy was found dead after reportedly being stabbed in the neck in Shankill, South Dublin.

Ireland's National Police - the Gardaí - is treating the toddler's death as suspicious after they discovered his body shortly before 2pm in the Ridge Hall apartments in Shanganagh Road in Ballybrack. He was later pronounced dead by a doctor, who attended the scene.

It is believed he was stabbed in the neck. A woman in her forties has been arrested and is being held at Dun Laoghaire Garda Station.

The body remains at the scene while forensic investigations are carried out.

Police said the Office of the State Pathologist has also been notified.

According to the Irish Examiner, only a woman and the child was at the apartment when the police arrived.

One police source told the paper a murder probe would likely to be launched following the results from a post-mortem examination.

Some residents have expressed their shock via Twitter.