'People must be held accountable' for failures relating to Kyran Durnin – Justice Minister
Missing, Durnin, An Dead Picture: 8, Síochána Kyran Aged Presumed Is Garda
Individuals and agencies will need to be held accountable for failures relating to a missing eight-year-old boy now presumed dead, according to Justice Minister Helen McEntee.
Detectives in Drogheda have established that Kyran Durnin, who was reported missing by his family on August 30, had not been seen for many months, and possibly for more than two years.
The case itself was upgraded from a missing person case to a murder investigation on Wednesday, despite no remains being discovered or any crime scene being identified.
Ms McEntee said that it was important for gardaí to carry out their investigation and ascertain what happened to Kyran.
Questioned if Tusla had failings with the case, Ms McEntee said that if any State agency has not done their job properly, they must be held to account.
“This is a devastating case. This is a really very upsetting case when you look at the facts and you read what has potentially happened here,” Ms McEntee said.
“Unfortunately the view is that he is most likely dead and has passed away, but we need to understand what’s happened.
“We need to know have there been failures here, where have those failures been taking taking place, but also who is responsible for them.”
Ms McEntee said that if failings are identified through the investigation, individuals will need to be held to account.
“He was a young boy that hadn’t been seen in two years, that’s not acceptable. That’s not to be tolerated by anybody.”
She urged anyone with information to come forward so Gardaí are able to identify where he is located.
Gardaí have also confirmed that Tusla is working with officers and cooperating fully with the investigation.
A statement by Gardaí earlier this week said: “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.