Preliminary results from a post-mortem on the body of 8-year-old Anthony Ward show that he appeared to have died from asphyxia.

The boy was found dead at his home in Charleville in Co. Cork yesterday.

Gardai do not believe he died of natural causes.

The Health Service Executive (HSE) has ordered an investigation into the matter because it had previous involvement with the family.

Barry Roche is Southern Correspondent with The Irish Times.

“Preliminary indications seem to suggest that Anthony died from asphyxia” he said.

“The assistant State Pathologist Dr. Margot Bolster will also be awaiting results of some toxicology tests”.

“But at the moment, it seems to suggest that Anthony died from asphyxia” he added.

The European Minister Lucinda Creighton has defended her comments in a newspaper interview in which she said government backbenchers need to calm down.

Minister Creighton told The Irish Times that it is not credible for TDs to “whinge” about budget figures that were agreed last December.

It comes amid reports of a split in the coalition over budget cutbacks including the 130 million euro cuts announced in the health service last week.

Speaking on her way into Government Buildings this morning Minister Creighton said the most important thing right now is to turn the economy around.

“Both Fine Gael and Labour TDs need to just calm down a little bit” she said.

“I think that we have a very clear mandate from the electorate arising from the election last year – TDs from both the Labour Party and Fine Gael were elected to implement reforms and to get the economy back on track”.

“That’s the only thing that matters” she added.

The Taoiseach has dismissed suggestions of tensions between the coalition parties over budget cuts.

The Cabinet meets for the first time since the summer break today and the meeting is set to be dominated by talks on the €130 million health cuts announced last week.

Some Labour Ministers and backbenchers are unhappy with the cutbacks.

Labour chairman Colm Keaveney has said it would be wrong for his party not to prepare for an election.

But speaking on his way into Government Buildings today Enda Kenny said Ministers are back to business.

“The silly season is now over, and the government gets down to real work – making the decisions in respect of sorting out our country’s finances” he said.

“Making decisions that’ll make it more competitive for us to attract inward investment and the creation of jobs”.

“And making sure that services for those who need them – that we’re in a position to deliver those” he added.

Meanwhile the Tanaiste has accused Fianna Fail of having a “hard neck” after the party said it will table a motion of ‘no confidence’ in the Health Minister.

Both Fianna Fail and Sinn Fein will table separate motions when the Dail resumes later this month.

Eamon Gilmore had this to say when asked by reporters if he is confident that Labour TDs will show their support for Minister James Reilly.

“Fianna Fail have a hard neck to tell anybody about health – they left this country in a  horrific mess” he said.

“In particular, their handling of the health service was appalling”.

“So what Fianna Fail have to say about the health service is just a pure act of hypocrisy” he added.

Two men held in connection with the murder of a 21-year-old man at a family wedding in Co. Clare have had their periods of detention extended.

Robert Sheehan was critically injured after the gun attack in the early hours of Sunday and he passed away at Limerick Regional Hospital yesterday.

Gardaí arrested two men in Cork in connection with his death and today at a special sitting of Ennis District Court officers applied to have them detained in custody for a further 72 hours.

The application was granted by Judge Patrick Durkan.

Both men can now be held at Ennis and Shannon Garda Stations until Friday.

8 people have been arrested following disturbances in Belfast.

Several officers have been injured in clashes in the north of the city over the last two nights.

Newstalk’s Jack Quann has more.