What happened to Kyran Durnin? Timeline of the young boy’s mysterious disappearance

Seven days ago, the Gardaí issued an appeal for information into the disappearance of an eight year old boy from Co. Louth, Kyran Durnin.

The statement said Kyran had been reported missing from a home in Drogheda on Friday the 30th of August 2024, however the statement went on to say that the child is now “missing presumed dead”.

“Despite extensive enquiries carried out by Gardaí to date, we have been unable to either locate Kyran, identify his current whereabouts or any evidence that he is currently alive," the statement read. "Investigating Gardaí now believe that Kyran is missing presumed dead”.

Read more: Missing Louth boy Kyran Durnin, 8, was last seen as a pupil in 2022

Read more: Gardaí investigating Kyran Durnin's disappearance cannot confirm any sighting of him this year

Gardai now believe that Kyran has not been seen for more than two years and a murder investigation is launched.

Here is the timeline of everything we know so far about the mysterious disappearance:

May/June 2022: The last confirmed sighting of Kyran is when he is a six-year-old senior infant student at a local national school in Dundalk. He is a pupil there until approximately the end of the 2021/2022 primary school year. 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.

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. Reports claim up to three other properties in Louth are due to be searched.

The statement from Gardaí says: “That house will be searched and be subject of technical and forensic examinations, as will the garden and adjoining open ground to that house.

“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”.

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."

The investigating team issued a fresh appeal to the public to come forward with any and all information that may help their case. “An Garda Síochána’s 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 Gardaí.

“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.

“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.

“You can contact the Garda Investigation Team at Drogheda Garda Station on 041 987 4200, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or speak with any member of An Garda Síochána”.

Justice Minister Helen McEntee has said that if there were failings in the “devastating” case, any state agency or individual who has not done their job properly “will be held accountable”.

“It is a very upsetting case when you look at the facts and when you read what has potentially happened,” she added. “The most important thing is that they understand what has happened and identify where he is.

“Unfortunately, the view is that he is most likely dead and has passed away, but we need to understand what has happened,” she said.

Meanwhile Taoiseach Simon Harris has described the case as “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, that they're not there, is utterly heartbreaking, and clearly something went extraordinarily wrong here. This child was failed, and was failed badly."

Harris said he would not "cut across" the Garda investigation, but pledged to "make sure we get to the bottom of this”.

He 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.”

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