Witnesses may not come forward if they think Kyran Durnin, 8, died two years ago, gardaí fear

But garda sources have stressed that this does not mean the boy died or was killed at that time and that he could have remained alive for some time afterwards.

“The last confirmed sighting does not mean he was last alive then,” a garda source said. “We are concerned that there could be people out there who may have information, that they think they saw him after 2022, say in 2023, but hear from media reports that he died back in 2022, and think ‘oh, it can’t be him then’ and don’t come forward.” 

Gardaí stress they have no information as to when Kyran was killed or died.

They also say that while officers are conducting a murder investigation, he could have died subsequent to receiving a blow, where there was no intent to kill, or that even he died accidentally or by neglect and subsequent attempts were made to cover up his death.

As it stands, detectives are looking at a small number of people who they believe have crucial information. Gardaí have received differing and even conflicting, information from some people close to Kyran.

Detectives say there are other people who knew the boy and had access to him that they want to talk to and assess.

Gardaí have also identified a wider pool of people, including in agencies such as Tusla, who might have had contact with the family.

Sources have said that social workers may have met a boy other than Kyran when they went to check on his safety.

It is expected that gardaí will also seek to talk to Kyran's two siblings.

Kyran was initially reported missing on August 30, with gardaí told that both he and his mother were last seen two days prior to that.

His mother, Dayla, was located last week in the UK, and her missing case was closed. Her son was not with her and it is not clear what information she has provided to gardaí.

Officers have also spoken to the boy’s father and grandmother.

The decision by the investigation team to upgrade the missing persons’ case to murder last Wednesday was unusual - though not unprecedented – as they had no remains and no possible crime scenes or specific information that the boy was killed.

No searches of homes or properties have been ordered to far, with sources pointing out that gardaí need “probable cause” to seek a search warrant of a home from the courts.

It is understood that Kyran was taken out of his primary school around May 2022 with authorities believing he was being moved to a school in the North.

Wider inquiries, beyond the criminal investigation, are underway on the contact public authorities, such as Tusla, had with the family to pin down the exact circumstances and details of those engagements.

Last Friday, Justice Minister Helen McEntee called on people with information to contact gardaí, saying they needed to “identify where he is so we can understand what happened to him”.

Asked by reporters if there were questions for child services, the minister said it was vital to establish how Kyran could go missing for two years.

Ms McEntee said they needed to establish “if there were there failings here, how do we address those failings and are there people who need to be held responsible for those failings”.

She said she was “absolutely adamant” that, if there were failings, people had to be held accountable:

“We have a young boy who has not been seen in two years. That’s not acceptable. That’s not to be tolerated by anyone. We need to know what happened here. Any agency or person who has not done their job needs to be held responsible.” 

Gardaí are asking people with information about Kyran’s disappearance can contact them, in confidence, either at Drogheda Garda station on (041) 987 4200, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.