Irish police have begun searching the former family home of eight-year-old Kyran Durnin, who has been missing for two months and is believed to be dead.
The young schoolboy’s disappearance was reported to police on 30 August, along with his mother who has since been located.
Officers began their search of the terraced property in Dundalk, Co Louth on Tuesday morning. It is currently occupied by new tenants, who are not connected to the investigation.
The house on Emer Terrace was in the possession of Kyran’s family until May 2024, with unconfirmed reports speculating that Kyran may have been missing for as long as two years.
Irish premier Simon Harris has said Kyran was “failed badly” and that something went “extraordinarily wrong” in his case.
Speaking outside Dundalk garda station, Chief Superintendent Alan McGovern said: “Despite extensive inquiries carried out by gardai to date, we have been unable to either locate Kyran, identify any information on his current whereabouts or any evidence that he is currently alive.
“Following inquiries to date, investigating gardai now believe that Kyran is missing, presumed dead.”
Irish leader says Kyran was ‘failed badly'
17:23 , Holly EvansIrish premier Simon Harris said Kyran was “failed badly” and that something went “extraordinarily wrong” in his case.
“Like everybody across the country, I’m really hoping for a breakthrough and progress this morning,” he said.
“The case of Kyran Durnin is deeply disturbing, deeply upsetting, in fact, I would go so far as to say it’s utterly horrifying.
“For any of us as a human being, for any of us parents, to think that a child can effectively disappear and go unnoticed and not be noticed that they’re not there is utterly heartbreaking and clearly something went extraordinarily wrong here. This child was failed and was failed badly.”
He said he would not “cut across” the Garda investigation, but pledged to “make sure we get to the bottom of this”.Mr Harris added: “How was this child, an eight-year-old little boy, effectively disappeared and that not be noticed? I think there’s nobody in Ireland, including me, who can comprehend that this morning.
“Whatever needs to be done to establish, from an accountability point of view, how this child was failed, how Kyran was failed, must happen. The most important thing right now in the here and now is for that Garda work that’s actively under way as we speak, to (continue).”
In pictures: Police search Kyran’s former family home
16:54 , Holly Evans
Police liaising with other state agents such as Tusla
16:31 , Holly EvansChief Superintendent Alan McGovern said that police in Co Louth want to find out where Kyran Durnin is and what happened to the eight-year-old.
“An Garda Siochana (Irish police) is liaising closely with other state agencies, including Tusla, who are co-operating and assisting fully with this murder investigation,” he added.
“I want to thank 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. I continue to appeal to anyone who has any information in connection with the disappearance of Kyran to contact investigating gardai.
“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.”
Police say house was used by Kyran’s family until May 2024
16:16 , Holly EvansPolice in Dundalk, Co Louth, began their search of the property in town on Tuesday morning. Speaking outside Dundalk Garda Station, Chief Superintendent Alan McGovern said they took possession of a private house on Emer Terrace.
“The purpose of these searches are to discover any evidence which might provide us with information as to Kyran’s current whereabouts or what has happened to Kyran,” Mr McGovern said. “The house is known to have been Kyran’s family home for a period of years up to May 2024. I must emphasise that the current tenants of this house are not connected in anyway with Kyran or his disappearance.
“An Garda Siochana (Irish police) can confirm that Kyran was a student in a local national school, here in Dundalk, up to approximately the end of the 2021/2022 primary school year.
“Kyran was reported missing, along with his mother, to An Garda Siochana on the 30th August 2024, and as having been last seen on or about the 28th August 2024. An Garda Siochana has identified the whereabouts of Kyran’s mother.
“Despite extensive inquiries carried out by gardai to date, we have been unable to either locate Kyran, identify any information on his current whereabouts or any evidence that he is currently alive.
“Following inquiries to date investigating gardai now believe that Kyran is missing, presumed dead.”
Full story: Murder probe police search former family home of missing Kyran Durnin
16:02 , Holly EvansDetectives investigating the suspected murder of eight-year-old Kyran Durnin in Ireland are searching his former family home, police have confirmed.
Officers began their search of the property in Dundalk, Co Louth, on Tuesday morning.
The house, where new tenants unconnected to the investigation now live, was taken into possession by Irish police after they were granted an order by the District Court.
Read the full article here:
Murder probe police search former family home of missing Kyran Durnin
Welcome to our live blog
15:51 , Holly EvansWelcome to our live coverage of the investigation into the disappearance and suspected murder of eight-year-old Kyran Durnin.
We’ll be bringing you the latest updates here.
