'Very strange and very sad': Boy, 8, feared dead may not have been seen for two years
Kyran Durnin was reported missing by his family on August 30, and has not been seen for many months, and, possibly, for more than two years. Picture: Garda/PA Wire
Gardaí have described as “very strange and very sad” the circumstances around a missing eight-year-old boy, now believed to have been killed.
Detectives in Drogheda, Co Louth, have established that Kyran Durnin, who was reported missing by his family on August 30, has not been seen for many months, and, possibly, for more than two years.
Although no remains have been found, and no crime scenes have been identified, officers upgraded their missing person’s case on Wednesday to a murder investigation.
Despite “extensive investigations” gardaí have been unable to find a family member or person of authority who knows where the boy is.
High-level inquiries are under way into how a young boy could disappear for so long unnoticed.
Gardaí have confirmed that Tusla, the child and family agency, is working closely with officers and is fully co-operating with the investigation.
The missing report from family members on August 30 stated that the boy, along with his mother, Dayla, were last seen on August 28 in Drogheda.
Gardaí have located the whereabouts of the boy’s mother and have established that she is safe.
But they declined to confirm if they have spoken to her about Kyran.
Detectives are believed to have spoken to the boy’s father.
They have also spoken to a large number of family members and relatives, but it is understood they have received different, and even, conflicting stories in relation to the child.
It is understood that some people known to the boy expressed serious concerns about his safety to gardaí.
Detectives believe there are people who have important information about the boy and his movements and are urging them to come forward.
Gardaí are trying to establish where the boy would have lived or visited in that time period and what interactions he had, or was believed to have had, with various agencies and schools.
“It is very strange,” a Garda source said, “that a young child of eight can disappear and no one knows where he is. In this day and age that is very sad.”
The Garda team is concentrating on gathering information on where Kyran is, what happened to him, and who was involved in his death.
“Gardaí are trying to identify possible locations for the boy and then try and validate those,” a source said.
Gardaí said it was not possible for an eight-year-old boy to disappear and independently look after himself — and that someone, or more than one person, must have information.
A Garda HQ statement said: “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.
“Following enquiries to date, investigating gardaí now believe that Kyran is missing presumed dead. A murder investigation has been commenced.”
No arrests have yet been made.
People can contact Drogheda Garda Station on 041 9874200 , the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda station.
Meanwhile, detectives in Northern Ireland have launched a murder investigation following the death of a young child in Co Tyrone.
Officers have named the 23-month-old victim as Tavia Michella Ximenes Da Costa.
Detective Chief Inspector Anthony Kelly said: "Three people, two women and one man, were arrested in connection with the toddler's murder.”
