Gardaí extend search to rough ground near former home of suspected murder victim Kyran Durnin

LAST UPDATE | 16 hrs ago

GARDAÍ HAVE EXTENDED their searches in Dundalk as they continue to investigate the murder of Kyran Durnin.

They have been searching a house in the town where Kyran lived with his family in the past. This morning they extended that search to waste ground near the house at Emer Terrace.

Gardaí dressed in forensic overalls have been carrying out searches at the small property. 

Sources said it is anticipated that other locations will be searched by the gardaí.

It is believe the family had been living in the rented property in recent years before moving to Drogheda. Gardaí have stressed that the current occupants of the house have no connection to the disappearance. 

Meanwhile the child and family agency Tusla has said it raised “a significant concern” over Kyran Durnin with Gardaí in August of this year. 

Kyran, who would now be eight years old, was initially reported missing in August. 

However, gardaí announced last week that after extensive inquiries, they had been unable to find any evidence that he is alive. 

A murder investigation was subsequently launched.

Searches are today continuing at the young boy’s former family home in Dundalk as part of the investigation into his disappearance.

In a statement, Tusla said that while Kyran was not in residential care, their services had engaged with both him and his family. 

“In August 2024, we alerted An Garda Síochána in relation to a significant concern about Kyran,” the child and family agency said. 

“Since August, we have continued to assist and work closely with the Gardaí, and in line with normal practice, all relevant information has been shared.

“We can also confirm that as appropriate a notification has been sent to The National Review Panel (NRP), whose responsibility is to independently review cases of serious incidents involving children in care or known to Tusla.”

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Tusla also said it has commenced an internal review “to look at our engagements and interactions with Kyran and his family”. 

“We are conscious of the ongoing Garda investigation, and as such will not be commenting further at this time. Anyone with information on this case should contact An Garda Síochána.”

Yesterday, Gardaí, acting under a warrant, began a search of Kyran’s former family home on Emer Terrace in Dundalk. 

The search has continued today, with Gardaí  excavating a section of wasteland behind the house.

The property is known to have been the child’s family home for a period of years up to May 2024.

Gardaí have stressed that the current tenants of this house are not connected in anyway with Kyran or his disappearance.

A Garda spokesperson said the purpose of the search is to discover “any evidence which might provide information as to Kyran’s current whereabouts or what has happened to Kyran”.

Speaking in the Dáil today during Leaders’ Questions, Taoiseach Simon Harris said that the case had left the country “utterly horrified and heartbroken”.

“I don’t think there’s a person on any side of this House, or a person in Ireland who isn’t both utterly horrified and utterly heartbroken at what is emerging in relation to the case of young Kyran Durnin,” he said.

Speaking yesterday, Chief Superintendent Alan McGovern thanked members of the public who have contacted the garda investigation team to date.

“Our 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,” he said. 

“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.”

Anyone who has any information in connection with the disappearance of Kyran is asked to contact Drogheda Garda Station on 041 987 4200, the Garda Confidential Line on (1800) 666 111 or any Garda Station.

With reporting by Diarmuid Pepper, Niall O’Connor, and the Press Association.

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