Gardai hunt for tragic Kyran Durnin's secret grave amid fears he was killed more than two years ago

On Wednesday, Gardaí in the Co Louth town launched a murder hunt over his disappearance – and are now also searching for his remains

Gardai are searching for the secret grave of missing Kyran Durnin – amid fears he was killed more than two years ago.

“He is out there somewhere. We want to find him and give him a proper Christian burial,” a source said.

And sources have also revealed that the little boy from Drogheda in Co Louth was last seen in May 2022 – when he was just six. Officers now suspect Kyran, who has two siblings, may have died shortly after that last sighting.

“It is probable he has been dead for more than two years,” a source said.

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Gardaí in the Co Louth town launched a murder hunt over his disappearance – and are now also searching for his remains.

One source said: “if he disappeared and is now dead, it is a logical next step that his remains have been disposed of or hidden in some location. As well as the murder inquiry, we are also focused on finding his remains. They have to be somewhere.”

The murder inquiry was revealed on Wednesday morning – more than a month after the child was reported missing on August 30. Officers had been frantically searching for the child following his disappearance – but have now concluded he is dead and have launched a murder probe.

Despite a major search and repeated public appeals for help in tracing him, no sign of the boy has been found. Now, gardai have upgraded the case to murder.

The force said it took the decision because they have found no evidence he is alive. Officers took the rare step of upgrading the missing person’s case to murder – even though they have no body.

A spokesman said: “Kyran was reported missing from his home in Drogheda, Co. Louth, to An Garda Síochána on the 30th August 2024. Despite extensive enquiries carried out by Gardaí to date, An Garda Síochána have been unable to either locate Kyran, identify any information on his current whereabouts or any evidence that he is currently alive. Following enquiries to date, investigating Gardaí now believe that Kyran is missing presumed dead. A murder investigation has been commenced.”

And he appealed for anyone with information to come forward.

He said: “The investigation is being led by a Senior Investigation Officer (SIO) based out of an incident room established at Drogheda Garda Station. Gardaí are appealing to anyone who has any information in connection with the disappearance of Kyran to contact Drogheda Garda Station on 041 987 4200 , the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda Station.

“Any information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, will be welcomed by the investigation team. This information will be treated in the strictest confidence. No arrests have been made. The investigation is ongoing.”

Sources say there are no confirmed suspects in the case yet. Kyran is described as being 3 feet 3 inches in height, with a medium build, brown eyes and brown hair. When last seen, Kyran was wearing a navy zip-up windbreaker and black runners.

It is extremely rare for gardaí to upgrade missing persons cases to murder – and that shows how seriously officers are taking this disappearance.

In August 2018, officers investigating the July 1998 disappearance of Co Kildare student Deirdre Jacob, then 20, upgraded that case to murder. They tried to charge sex beast Larry Murphy with her murder, but the Director of Public Prosecutions declined to prosecute him.

And in 2020, the case of missing Jo Jo Dullard, who vanished from Moone in Co Kildare in November 1995, when she was 21.

Officers have also upgraded the case of Willie Maughan (35) and Latvian national Ana Varslavane (21) were last seen in Gormanston, Co Meath, on April 14, 2015. Officers probing the 1993 disappearance in south Dublin of American student Annie McCarrick have also upgraded that missing person's case to murder

No remains have ever been recovered in any of those cases.

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