A three-year-old boy was crushed to death by a lift after getting out of his pushchair and walking into the shaft.
It's believed the toddler got out of his pushchair after he became separated from his family on the first floor of a social services office block and went through open lift doors into the shaft.
Emergency services rushed to the social welfare centre in Galway city but were unable to save the child.
A witness told local news: "The mother was understandably distraught and there was a lot of screaming and crying. It was a very distressing scene."
The boy, Solomon Soremekun, a Nigerian boy who lived on the Fionnuisce estate in Doughiska, County Galway, was in the Office of the Department of Social Protection with his mother and three siblings.
Gardai are satisfied the death is not suspicious and it is being treated as a tragic accident.
Two separate investigations are now under way by the police and the Health and Safety Authority.
Doughiska parish priest Fr Martin Glynn said he was shocked when he learned of the death.
He added: "It is an awful tragedy. I have spoken to members of the African community here but they are still not aware of who these people are yet."
Local Fine Gael councillor Frank Fahy added: "My sympathies would go out to that family. It is such a horrific accident to visit any family.
"I would like to see a full investigation into the matter. It was a needless death of a young child."