Gardaí are investigating whether another child was used to impersonate missing eight-year-old Kyran Durnin to mislead social services.
It comes after investigators identified another child who care workers reportedly believed was the missing child.
Police believe at least four people may have been involved in attempts to cover up Kyran’s death.
On Wednesday, gardaí upgraded their missing person case to a murder case after receiving information that he had died.
Kyran was reported missing from his home in Drogheda, Co Louth, on August 30 this year, but gardaí believe he could have been dead for up to two years.
Gardaí investigate whether another child was used to impersonate missing eight-year-old Kyran Durnin to deceive social services
On Wednesday, gardaí upgraded the youth’s missing case to a murder case after receiving intelligence that he had died.
His mother Dayla, who was also reported missing at the end of August, has been located safe and sound in the United Kingdom.
Gardaí are now trying to establish the last time Kyran could be verified to be alive, whether it be medical records, a photograph, eyewitness accounts or CCTV.
While the investigation continues, gardaí now believe that at least four people were involved in the death and subsequent cover-up. Several security sources have told the Irish Daily Mail that Gardaí believe a group of people were involved in Kyran’s disappearance.
“You have to understand that at this stage Gardaí are still investigating the facts of this case,” a source said.
‘There are already many tensions in this investigation. You should also remember that there is no body at this time, so gardaí cannot determine the cause of death, any possible murder weapon or give a reasonable timeline of when he actually died.
“But what they are doing now is analyzing all the evidence to determine a time when they can say for sure that he was alive.”
‘In relation to who was behind his death, Gardaí are still keeping an open mind but are almost certain there was a group of people behind it. There is also a theory that this was an accidental death and that this group of people worked together to prevent the authorities from getting involved.
“This would include disposing of the body, as well as doing certain things that would make it appear to people that you are still alive.”
Gardaí are now investigating how Kyran’s school, as well as Tusla representatives who interviewed the Durnin family, were unaware the boy was missing. In response to questions from the Mail, Tusla said it could not comment on individual cases.
A spokeswoman said: “In particular, we are aware that the Garda are investigating this sensitive case.” “We will continue to work closely with Gardaí and other parties as necessary at this time.”
Questions are also being raised about how the State’s child safety mechanisms failed to detect that a child had been missing for two years. This is something our security sources described as “strange.” They stated: ‘Gardaí were not informed of the missing person case until August and it was like opening Pandora’s box. The more you look at the case, the more incredible it becomes.
Dayla Durin, 24, was reported missing along with her son, but is now reported to have been found in the United Kingdom.
‘Gardaí are now going to Kyran’s school to check attendance records and whether there have been any incidents or alerts regarding his safety. The fact that Tusla was already involved in this child’s life is also very important. How many opportunities were there to realize you were missing out?
Reacting to the news earlier this week, local Labor TD Ged Nash said anyone deliberately hiding information about Kyran should examine their conscience.
“I would appeal to anyone who can shed light on this situation… to speak to An Garda Síochána,” he said. ‘There are no two ways to describe this: it is every family’s worst nightmare. There will be people who will know what happened, so I would ask them to examine their own conscience and do the right thing.’
Louth’s Fine Gael TD Fergus O’Dowd described the case as “hugely shocking” and added: “It is important to let the gardaí continue their investigation without people speculating what happened, but this is obviously a very tragic case.” All I can do is try to encourage anyone who has any information to come forward.’
Gardaí continue to plead with anyone with information, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant, to contact them.
A spokesperson said: “Gardaí are appealing to anyone who has any information in relation to Kyran’s disappearance to contact Drogheda Garda Station on 041 987 4200, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any station of Garda”.
‘Any information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, will be welcomed by the investigation team. This information will be treated with the strictest confidentiality. No arrests have been made. The investigation is ongoing.’
