A boy (3) has died after becoming trapped in a lift shaft at a building in Galway city.

The incident happened at around 3pm this afternoon at the Hynes Building on St. Augustine Street.

A number of investigations have been launched into the incident involving the gardai and the Health and Safety Authority (HSA).

The boy was with his Nigerian born mother and two other siblings at the time of the incident.

The building houses offices of the Department of Social Protection, as well as regional offices of broadcaster RTÉ.

Enda Cunningham is a reporter with the Connacht Tribune newspaper in Galway.