Man arrested over Kyran Durnin murder found dead in Drogheda

The man who was arrested and questioned as part of the investigation into the murder of Louth boy Kyran Durnin has been found dead.

The man, who is a father aged in his 30s, was found dead at a house in Drogheda earlier today. Gardai are said to be treating his death as a “personal tragedy”.

A statement from Gardai reads: "Earlier today, Tuesday, 17th December 2024, Gardaí and emergency services were alerted following the discovery of a body of a male aged in his 30s in a domestic residence in Drogheda, County Louth.

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"The local Coroner has been notified and a post-mortem examination will be arranged. The outcome of the post-mortem will determine the course of the investigation. No additional information is available at this time."

The man had been arrested and questioned by Gardai as part of a major development in the case last week. He was later released without charge.

The murder probe was first launched in October. It is suspected that the boy, who was reported missing in August, might have died in 2022 when he was six.

What we know so far: Timeline of Kyran Durnin's disappearance

May 2022: The last confirmed sighting of Kyran is when he is a six-year-old junior infant student at a local national school in Dundalk, Co. Louth. He is a pupil there until approximately the end of the 2021/2022 primary school year. Kyran is said to be taken out of school after contracting Covid-19. The school says the family informed them they were moving to Northern Ireland and Kyran would not be returning for the next school year.

30th August 2024: Kyran and his mother are reported missing. The report claims they were last seen at about 11pm on the 28th of August, 2024. Kyran’s grandmother shares several appeals on social media saying: “This is my grandson Kyran. If anyone has any information about him or his whereabouts, can you please contact your local Garda station? He needs to be found as soon as possible."

4th September 2024: Kyran’s mother was located safe and well in the UK without Kyran.

16th October 2024: Gardaí issue an appeal for information into the disappearance of Kyran and say he is now “missing presumed dead”.

21st October 2024: Investigating Gardaí take possession of a house in Emer Terrace, Dundalk acting under a search warrant. The house was Kyran’s family home for a period of years up to May 2024. The current tenants have no involvement with the case. The search reportedly brings no significant evidence into Kyran's disappearance.

22nd October 2024: In a statement, Tusla, the child and family agency, says it alerted Garda to a “significant concern” in August this year.

"We can confirm that whilst Kyran was not in the care of Tusla, our services had engaged with both he and his family. In August 2024, we alerted An Garda Síochána in relation to a significant concern about Kyran.

"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, whose responsibility is to independently review cases of serious incidents involving children in care or known to Tusla. We have also commenced an internal review, to look at our engagements and interactions with Kyran and his family."

4th November 2024: The chief executive of Tusla explains on RTE Radio 1 that Kyran's disappearance went unnoticed by the agency for so long because it "received no referrals of concern either through our child protection welfare services or our educational support services."

10th December 2024: Gardai confirm they have made an arrest of a women in her 20s who was well known to Kyran on suspicion of murder. The women is said to have returned from overseas by ferry on the same day a BBC documentary is scheduled to air covering the case.

11th December 2024: The woman is released without charge after a mandatory 24 hours of questioning.

12th December 2024: A man in his 30s is arrested on suspicion of murder as part of the investigation. On the same day, investigating gardaí begin searches at two properties in Drogheda, County Louth. Gardaí said the searches aim to “discover any evidence which might provide us with information as to Kyran’s current whereabouts or what has happened to Kyran”.

13th December 2024: The man is also released without charge.

17th December 2024: The man who had been arrested and questioned as part of the investigation into Kyran's murder is found dead at a residence in Drogheda.