Gardai set to begin dig operation to find body of missing child presumed dead

It’s understood the boy was last seen alive around four years ago

Gardai are set to begin a dig operation to find the remains of a young boy they fear may have been killed and secretly buried.

Sources say the excavation and other searches could take place in north County Dublin as early as today. The decision to carry out the dig comes just days after gardai in the area began a major probe into concerns the boy may have been killed as many as four years ago.

Sources tell us gardai believe the child is dead and was secretly buried – but have been told conflicting stories of how the boy lost his life.

It’s understood the mother of the boy, who was last seen alive around four years ago when he was aged around three and a half, has told gardai that the child was killed by her ex partner.

But sources also say that gardai have been given another scenario – that the child died in his sleep. In either scenario, it is accepted however that the remains of the boy, who would be aged around eight now, were secretly buried in the Donabate area of north County Dublin.

“The only way we have of knowing for sure is if we recover the boy’s body and a post mortem tells us what happened,” a source said.

Sources tell us gardai from Swords Station who are investigating the kid’s disappearance are now set to carry out a number of searches for the child’s body.

It’s understood the father is Irish born, but moved to another country at some stage after the boy was last seen alive. The mother of the boy is from Africa and has remained living in the north Dublin area.

She was interviewed by gardai on Sunday around the same time a property in Donabate was sealed off and searched by detectives.

Gardai left the property late on Sunday evening after the search yielded nothing – but the investigation is ongoing.

The investigation started on Friday after gardai received an urgent referral from Tusla – Child and Family Agency.

It is understood the alarm was first raised when the child’s mother tried to claim child benefit payments from the Department of Social Protection for the little boy.

Staff became suspicious when she was unable to provide proof that the boy had been attending school or even received treatment from a doctor to back up her application.

Social welfare workers contacted Tusla – who then got in touch with gardai. That prompted a major Garda probe – that saw officers seal off an area in Donabate over the weekend. It was sealed off as gardai carried out a search – but nothing was found.

Officers then interviewed the mother – who alleged the boy was killed by her ex partner.

It’s understood gardai have been in contact with associates of the ex-partner and they have painted a different picture and have raised the possibility of the boy dying of natural causes. Sources stressed the investigation by gardai from Swords was at an early and delicate stage.

And they said the priority was to establish where the child’s body is now – and see what the next step in the investigation is.

Meanwhile Children’s minister Norma Foley said she had spoken to Tusla bosses and senior civil servants – and appealed for anyone with information to come forward.

She said: “I am deeply concerned about this missing child. Uppermost in my thoughts is the welfare of this child. I have been briefed on this matter by officials and I have spoken to the Tusla chief executive about it. I have asked Tusla to keep me fully informed of developments in this case.

“I am appealing to anyone with information about this missing child to provide full co-operation to An Garda Siochána as it carries out its investigation.”

Tusla confirmed it contacted gardai on Friday over the boy.

It said: “We are aware of current media reports in relation to a very sensitive case relating to the disappearance of a child in Dublin. Our thoughts are with the child’s family, friends, and community at this difficult time.”

Gardai said they were investigating.

The case has chilling echoes to that of little Kyran Durnin, reported missing to gardai in his native Drogheda, Co Louth on Friday, August 30 last year.

That case was upgraded to a murder probe in October last year.

Officers suspect he may have been dead for several years and the last confirmed sighting of the boy – who would be nine if he were alive today – was in mid 2022.

Two people, a man and woman, have been arrested as part of the Kyran probe. The man, Anthony Maguire, 36, took his life days after being released without charge.

The woman has not been charged and investigations are continuing.

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