Gardaí in Co Louth investigating the disappearance of Kyran Durnin, 8, continue to appeal to the public for information as a search of a private property in Dundalk commences.
Chief Superintendent Alan McGovern said on Tuesday that on Monday, Gardaí investigating the disappearance of Kyran Durnin took possession of a private house on Emer Terrace in Dundalk, Co Louth, acting under a Search Warrant.
"Commencing today, that house will be searched and be subject of technical and forensic examinations, as will the garden and adjoining open ground to that house," McGovern said on Tuesday.
"The purpose of these searches are to discover any evidence which might provide us with information as to Kyran’s current whereabouts or what has happened to Kyran.
"The house is known to have been Kyran’s family home for a period of years up to May 2024.
"I must emphasise that the current tenants of this house are not connected in any way with Kyran or his disappearance."
October 22, 2024: Garda forensics technical bureau teams at the house on Emer Terrace in Dundalk. (RollingNews.ie)
McGovern said that An Garda Síochána were able to confirm that Kyran was a student in a local school in Dundalk up to approximately the end of the 2021 / 2022 primary school year.
Kyran, as well as his mother Dayla Durnin, was reported missing on August 30 of this year. The son and mother were believed to have last been seen on or about August 28.
While An Garda Síochána has identified the whereabouts of Kyran’s mother, Kyran's case has been upgraded to a murder investigation.
"Despite extensive enquiries carried out by Gardaí to date, An Garda Síochána have been unable to either locate Kyran, identify any information on his current whereabouts, or any evidence that he is currently alive," McGovern said on Tuesday.
"Following enquiries to date, Investigating Gardaí now believe that Kyran is missing, presumed dead.
"A murder investigation has been commenced, under the direction of a Senior Investigation Officer (SIO) based out of an incident room established at Drogheda Garda Station.
"An Garda Síochána is liaising closely with other state agencies, including TUSLA, who are cooperating and assisting fully with this murder investigation."
McGovern thanked the members of the public who have contacted the Garda investigation team to date.
October 22, 2024: Garda forensics technical bureau teams at the house on Emer Terrace in Dundalk. (RollingNews.ie)
He continued: "An Garda Síochána's sole focus and primary concern, and that of the investigation team is Kyran.
"We want to discover where Kyran is.
"We want to discover what has happened to Kyran.
"I continue to appeal to anyone who has any information in connection with the disappearance of Kyran to contact investigating Gardaí.
"Do not rule out any information that you may have.
"Please do not assume that the investigation team know the information that you may have.
"Any information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, will be welcomed by the investigation team. This information will be treated in the strictest confidence.
"You can contact the Garda Investigation Team at Drogheda Garda Station on 041 987 4200, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or speak with any member of An Garda Síochána."
October 22, 2024: C hief Superintendent Alan McGovern, Louth/Cavan/Monaghan Garda Division making a statement to the media at Dundalk Garda Station. (RollingNews.ie)
Meanwhile, the Mail on Sunday reports that according to a source, a different boy was presented to social workers and also to schools after fresh concerns were raised about Kyran.
Child benefit and welfare payments for the child also continued to be paid despite the authorities believing claims the boy had moved to the North.
"Tusla [Ireland's Child and Family Agency] were told Kyran and Dayla went North, but local gardaí do not believe they ever did," the source said.
"He kept moving house and school and his care was frustrated by this.
"Kyran had not been at school for a couple of years and schools and Tusla were misled."
The source said "serious concerns" within Tusla about the case "finally made it to gardaí at the end of the summer."
But they added: "By that stage, it looked like the child died or was killed and secretly buried.
"But children’s allowance and social welfare payments continued to be paid."
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