The man arrested last week in relation to the investigation into the disappearance and presumed murder of eight-year-old Kyran Durnin was found dead in Co Louth today, Tuesday, December 17, according to reports.
"Earlier today, Tuesday, 17th December 2024, Gardaí and emergency services were alerted following the discovery of a body of a male aged in his 30s in a domestic residence in Drogheda, Co Louth,” Gardaí said in a statement on Tuesday, according to RTÉ News.
"The local Coroner has been notified and a post-mortem examination will be arranged. The outcome of the post-mortem will determine the course of the investigation.
"No additional information is available at this time."
The man's death in Drogheda is being described as a "personal tragedy."
The Irish Times reports that the man who was found dead in Drogheda today "had access to Kyran in the period before the last confirmed sighting of him as a six-year-old in 2022" and was “known to the Durnin family and a close associate of another chief suspect in the case.”
The Irish Times added: “The deceased man had a history of violent offending.
"Sources said his death will probably significantly impede the investigation that has been ongoing since October.”
Gardaí made two separate arrests last week as part of their ongoing investigation into the disappearance and presumed murder of Co Louth boy Kyran Durnin.
A woman was arrested on suspicion of murder on December 10, but was released the following day without charge.
On December 12, Gardaí announced that a male had been arrested on suspicion of murder, but he too was released the following day without charge.
Announcing the man's arrest on December 12, Gardaí also said they were commencing searches at two locations, domestic houses, in Drogheda.
"The purpose of these searches is to discover any evidence which might provide us with information as to Kyran's current whereabouts or what has happened to Kyran," Gardaí said on Thursday.
December 13, 2024: Searches at a property in Drogheda, Co Louth as part of the investigation into the disappearance and murder of Kyran Durnin. (RollingNews.ie)
The searches were carried out by the Divisional Search team, supported by the Garda National Technical Bureau, Divisional Scene of Crime and Forensic Science Ireland.
December 13, 2024: Searches at a property in Drogheda, Co Louth as part of the investigation into the disappearance and murder of Kyran Durnin. (RollingNews.ie)
The search was also supported by a specialist Cadaver dog.
December 12, 2024: Searches at a property in Drogheda, supported by forensic teams and a cadaver dog. (RollingNews.ie)
The searches have since concluded - Gardaí said they are not releasing the results for "operational reasons."
The initial appeal for information about Kyran Durnin was issued by Gardaí on September 4. In their appeal, Gardaí requested the public's assistance in tracing the whereabouts of Dayla Durnin, 24, and her son Kyran Durnin, 8, who had both last been seen on the night of August 28 and were reported missing on August 30.
Later, on October 16, Gardaí confirmed that the search for Dayla Durnin was being stood down. It is understood that Dayla was located in the UK.
That same day, Gardaí said that despite extensive enquiries, they had found no information about Kyran's whereabouts - or any evidence that he is currently alive.
As such, Gardaí now believe that Kyran is missing presumed dead, and a murder investigation has been launched.
On October 22, Gardaí commenced a search of a private property and adjoining open lands at Emer Terrance in Dundalk, Co Louth.
The private property was known "to have been Kyran’s family home for a period of years up to May 2024," Gardaí said as the search commenced. They added that the current tenants of the property are not connected in any way with Kyran or his disappearance.
On October 24, Gardaí said they had completed searches and the results are not being released for operational purposes.
Meanwhile, sources have claimed that Kyran may have actually been dead for up to two years prior to being reported missing and that a different boy was presented to social workers and also to schools after fresh concerns were raised about the Co Louth boy.
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