Murder investigation stalled? – Irish Times

Kieran Durnin was reported missing from his home in Co Louth at the end of August, but gardai have since said he is now presumed dead and opened a murder investigation.

Has the murder investigation encountered serious difficulties?

The biggest challenge at the moment is the lack of information from people who police believe can tell them what happened to Kieran, who would be eight years old today if he were alive. Once a hidden serious crime is discovered, it usually causes a storm of publicity. And when that happens, gardaí always hope that someone with information will be stunned and come forward. But in this case this did not happen. Gardai also have no remains or crime scene.

What do police currently know about what happened?

We know Kieran’s family – his mother Dayla (24) also has two younger children – lived in the house in Emer Terrace, Dundalk, until May. However, Kieran’s last confirmed appearance was in May-June 2022when he last attended St Nicholas’s National School, Dundalk. The family appeared to be planning to move to Northern Ireland, so when Kieran did not return to school the following September, there were no immediate concerns. Earlier this year employees TuslaChild Protection and Welfare Agency, met with members of the Durnin family as part of an ongoing engagement. However, although at least one child was present at this meeting, Kieran was not present.

( Kieran Durnin case: Tusla case completed but not to be publishedOpens in a new window )

What happened next?

Nothing happened right away. But on August 29, Tusla went to the Gardaí and reported that she had serious concerns for Kyran’s welfare. This was done after they checked the boy again and were unable to see him. The next day, 30 August, a family member went to Gardaí and reported Kyran and his mother missing, but stated that they had only been in Louth the previous day. Gardaí immediately launched a missing person’s investigation. Gardaí found Kieran’s mother in the UK. On October 16, police said they could not find any evidence that Kieran was alive. As a result, they switched the investigation against Kyran to a murder investigation.

But who would want to kill Kieran and why?

Although the case is officially a murder investigation, it is not entirely certain that Kieran was killed. But by turning the investigation into a murder investigation, gardaí could have more resources and more powers, for example to obtain search warrants.

( Kieran Durnin ‘lost in the system’, says Education Secretary Norma FoleyOpens in a new window )

Sounds like you don’t even know the basics?

Gardaí cannot be certain that Kieran was killed, and if he is dead – which gardaí strongly suspect – it is unclear when he died or how. A search was carried out at the Emer Terrace house the week before last. This involved excavating the rear garden and adjacent wasteland. However, no remains were found.

So what’s happening now?

In short, the investigation is likely to be slow and laborious unless some important witness comes forward. Gardaí have received a huge amount of information from the public, including reports of sightings of Kyran. All these versions are tracked. Tusla has also carried out a review of its interactions with families, which is being examined this weekend. Further searches are also being considered. The movements, phone records, social media and messaging apps of “persons of interest” in the case are also being examined. Gardaí are still hoping that someone who knows what happened will come forward and be more open than they are now.