Roderic O'Gorman says 'something went wrong' in Kyran Durnin case
by Louise Burne · Irish MirrorChildren’s Minister Roderic O’Gorman has said it is clear "something went wrong" in the case of missing child Kyran Durnin as the Garda Commissioner said he has never seen one like it in his 40-year career.
Drew Harris said there is a "particular element" in the disappearance of the schoolboy that is "difficult to comprehend" and that investigators are pursuing the case with "full vigour and resources".
Gardaí suspect that Kyran may have died in 2022 when he was aged six. It comes as officers continue to search a former family property and adjoining lands in Dundalk, Co Louth. Thursday marked the third day of searches.
READ MORE: Clare Daly to run in General Election 2024 in Dublin Central
Tusla, the child and family agency, raised "significant concern" about Kyran with Gardaí in August.
Speaking to reporters in Dublin, the Garda Commissioner called Kyran’s disappearance an "extraordinary incident".
Mr Harris said: "I’ve over 40 years now in the police, and I have not seen really the like.
"I cannot think of a similar set of circumstances, and in that way there’s a particular element to this which is difficult to comprehend. But we have our work to do.
"This is a murder investigation and you can be assured that we are pursuing it with full vigour and resources."
Mr Harris said he was first made aware of Kyran’s case in early September.
"From the very beginning of this investigation, from August 30, it commenced as a missing persons investigation and then very quickly garda members, their suspicions were aroused and I was briefed on this in early September and visited the investigation teams," he said.
"We have obviously been very concerned to understand what has happened to Kyran and where this investigation is going to take us.
"I don’t want to comment on what our next steps might be in terms of searches and what other investigative steps we want to take.
"But you can be assured it is fully resourced and it continues at pace."
Speaking in Government Buildings this morning, Children’s Minister Roderic O’Gorman said it was clear that "something went wrong" and that he did not "know where that failing is".
He also said he would be willing to appear before the Oireachtas Children’s Committee to discuss Kyran and the other 226 children who were in State care or known to Tusla in the last decade.
"What's happened to Kyran is absolutely shocking," Minister O’Gorman said.
"We have good child protection legislation in this State, but it is clear that something went wrong here and that's why it is so important to establish exactly what went wrong.
"There are a number of State agencies involved in this particular issue. I set out where the agency under the control of my department [Tusla], the work they’re doing, both in terms of a Tusla review and the referral to the National Review Panel.
"It is important that we, in the first instance, allow the An Garda Siochana investigation to take place. But I have actually asked for work to take place across Tusla at the same time as well.
"Tusla has to take care of the most vulnerable children in our society, children who've been failed by their families, children who've been failed by other elements of the State. Ultimately, it's Tusla who has to look after these children."
Sign up to the Irish Mirror's daily newsletter hereand get breaking news and top stories direct to your inbox.