'When I see a picture of Kyran Durnin I wonder why in the name of God was he killed - and I cry'

I have spent most of my life living in Drogheda and in all my years I have never seen the people so angry as they are over the disappearance and murder of little Kyran Durnin.

The little man is one of our own, born and reared in our town and yet for over two years he was dead and no one noticed he was missing.

Two birthdays and two Christmases passed by and nobody said a word. Gardai have no credible evidence that anybody saw him alive after May, 2022 and are satisfied that something terrible happened to him around that period. He would have been just six years old.

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Every time I look at a picture of Kyran I wonder why in the name of God did somebody kill him and I cry.

I think of my own son JP when he was that age and the wonderful fun and laughter we had with him as he started playing football for Boyne Rovers in the town, golfing out the road at Seapoint in Termonfeckin and giving us his little opinions.

If something was wrong he would say to my wife Karen; "Can I have a word in private Mam," and he would tell her whatever little thing was bothering him.

Kyran, like my own son, was so cute and lovable at that age no one in their right mind would ever dream of hurting him - but yet somebody out there took Kyran's life,

My late mother in law Theresa Moroney used to say children are the great gift of life and are to be cherished. Nobody and no-one should ever hurt them.

Every time I think of Kyran I get angry and agitated at the thought that some person or persons out there murdered him.

I also wonder why people who knew him would then cover-up the truth of what happened to this little child to save their own pathetic skins.

I wonder how they can look at themselves in the mirror every day as if nothing has happened and continued to live their lives for over two years as if Kyran Durnin was never born in this world or ever existed.

The funny thing is these people involved - and mark my word there are a number - almost got away with murder only for the curiosity of a senior staff member in Tusla who felt something in the case did not add up.

The penny dropped that a child brought twice to a meeting with Tusla staff was not Kyran Durnin at all but a different child.

The social workers then realised Kyran was missing and that something serious had happened immediately alerting the Gardai.

Our child and family protection agency gets bad press from time to time because it is inadequately staffed and resourced yet Tusla exposed the whole crime and cover-up.

The sad part is that they could not prevent it from happening.

Everywhere you go in Drogheda the people are talking about Kyran. They know all of the families linked to the child and how this child slipped through the safety net.

They know the name of all the suspects and where they live. The people concerned may proclaim their innocence but just like the Gardai the people of Drogheda don't buy it.

Those who were supposed to protect Kyran have many questions to answer and have so far failed to do so.

A little lad like him can not just vanish off the face of the earth and nobody knows what happened. Somebody had to supply another child to pretend it was him for meetings with Tusla and somebody had to help dispose of his body.

The people of Drogheda want the body of Kyran found as quickly as possible and for him to be given a decent burial. Mark my words It will be the biggest funeral in the history of our town if and when it happens.

We all hope and pray that those out there covering up for the killers will face their fear and find the sense and courage to come out and tell the world how he died and where he is.

The Gardai have some brilliant investigators working on this case who care passionately about catching the killers and getting to the truth. I know they won't rest until they get answers .

They need every bit of help they can get and every last bit of information is crucial.

I would urge the public in Drogheda who know anything about Kyran to contact Drogheda Garda Station as soon as possible. My own town, despite some negative vibes in recent years, is a great place to live. We didn't tolerate gangsters and drug lords living on our doorsteps and we won't tolerate child killers

One way or the other the Drogheda people will get the Gardai the evidence they need and Kyran Durnin will get the justice he so deserves.

This is one crime the evil perpetrators will not get away with.

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