Kyran Durnin investigation: Suspect who died in 'personal tragedy' named as post-mortem to be carried out

This is the man who was quizzed over the murder of missing child Kyran Durnin and has now been found dead.

Our picture shows Anthony Maguire (36) outside a garda station where he was questioned over the still unexplained disappearance of 8-year-old Kyran and his suspected murder.

Maguire, who was a major suspect in the case, was found dead in his home on Tuesday morning - and it is suspected that he took his own life.

READ MORE: Man quizzed over suspected murder of Kyran Durnin dies in 'personal tragedy'

READ MORE: 'Guest at B&B' to suspect's death - How the story of Kyran Durnin's disappearance has unfolded

It is understood interviews with Maguire last week yielded little answers for investigating gardai - as he remained quiet throughout. He was subsequently released without charge following the conclusion of a brief but “intrusive” search of the back garden of his home in Beechwood Drive, Drogheda, Co Louth, last week.

Detectives had quizzed Maguire over the murder as forensic officers combed his home and a mini digger was brought in - along with a cadaver dog, to search for any evidence of a body last Thursday.

However after finding no evidence the search concluded - and Maguire was released without charge - pending a file being sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions. His arrest came 24 hours after a young woman had been arrested and released without charge over little Kyran’s suspected murder.

Maguire was known to gardai and was considered a volatile man - though he had not been before the courts in some time. He was previously in court for punching a teenage girl at Buttergate on April 18 2009.

In her evidence she who alleged Maguire punched her in the face, stated she had been with friends when a girl pulled her to the ground by her hair - and as she got up Maguire punched her. At the age of 22 he was before the courts over criminal damage at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda where he became agitated and smashed a window after having a row with his girlfriend.

It is feared that Kyran has in fact been missing and dead for two years however - but efforts to determine how and when he went missing are still continuing. 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.

Tusla, the Child and Family Agency said that in August it alerted gardaí to a significant concern about Kyran and that while he was not in its care, it had engaged with him and his family.

Tusla subsequently conducted an internal review into its interactions with Kyran and his family. A grandmother of Kyran Durnin reportedly was recorded on tape saying she last saw the youngster alive on Wednesday, August 28.

Rhonda Tyson said he stayed in her house in Drogheda, Co Louth, with his mother, her daughter Dayla and had been sleeping on the couch. But the next morning when she woke up, both mother and the child were gone. Dayla left a note for her on the table saying she needed to get away for a few days.

Her account of seeing Kyran recently alive is totally at odds with the view of Irish police that he has been dead for the last two years.
The recorded interview was obtained by the investigative BBC Spotlight team for their programme on the case The Lost Boy which was screened last Tuesday.

In a statement on Tuesday about the discovery of Maguire's body, gardai said: "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.

"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."

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