Search of house continues in Kyran Durnin investigation

The search of a property at a housing estate and its adjoining gardens in Drogheda, Co Louth in connection with the disappearance and murder of schoolboy Kyran Durnin is entering its second day.

Meanwhile, a man remains in custody this morning after being arrested yesterday on suspicion of his murder.

Kyran, who was six when last seen alive, was reported missing from his home in Drogheda in August.

In October, gardaí upgraded their missing person's case to a murder investigation, saying they were treating Kyran as missing presumed dead.

Although the missing person inquiry began in August, detectives suspect Kyran may have been killed more than two years ago.

The search operation is being carried out by the local garda divisional search unit, who are being supported by the Garda National Technical Bureau, Divisional Scene of Crime and Forensic Science Ireland.

A specialist cadaver dog is also assisting gardaí with the search.

Gardaí say the purpose of this operation is to find any evidence that will provide them with information on Kyran's whereabouts or what has happened to him.

Yesterday, a telescopic loader was used to hoist a mini-digger into the back garden of the property. This area of land is likely to be the focus of today's excavations.

Meanwhile, at a garda station in the east of the country, a man continues to be questioned on suspicion of the schoolboy’s murder.

He was arrested yesterday morning and is being held under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, meaning he can be questioned for up to 24 hours.

Given the man's period of detention can be suspended to allow him time to eat and rest, it will likely be later today before gardaí must either charge or release him.

A woman, who was arrested earlier in the week, was released without charge on Wednesday evening.

The woman, aged in her 20s, had been abroad for a period of time but was arrested in Ireland on Tuesday on suspicion of murder.

It is understood that she was known to Kyran and has been a person of interest in the case for some time, and that gardaí have also spoken to her on a number of previous occasions.

The ongoing search operation at this property in Drogheda is the third such one to take place as part of this murder investigation.

Gardaí completed the search of another house in Drogheda yesterday, the results of which were not released for operational reasons.

In October, the former Durnin family home in Dundalk and an adjoining area of open land was searched as part of the investigation.

Gardaí had stressed that the current tenants who live at the property are in no way connected to Kyran or his disappearance.

The results of that three-day search were also not released for operational purposes.