Kerry babies case: 34-year-old sample yields DNA profile

The director of the lab responsible for the DNA breakthrough in the Kerry Babies investigation has explained how advancements in technology allowed scientists to build a complete DNA profile of Baby John from a sample taken 34 years ago.

Dr Geraldine O’Donnell, director of DNA at Forensic Science Ireland, said it had stored since 1984 dried blood from a sample, taken from the baby, to allow newer techniques to shed more light on the case.

“It was submitted in 1984 and, at that time, Forensic Science Ireland was able to do what we call blood grouping tests on the sample.