'Intrusive search' continues as second person quizzed over Kyran Durnin murder
Gardaí A Investigation Search Drogheda Kyran As Durnin Part Padraig Of Picture: Murder The House O'reilly In
Specialist garda teams are continuing an “intrusive” search of a house and gardens in Drogheda as part of theKyran Durnin murder investigation.
A cadaver dog — trained to pick up scents of human remains — was used in the operation, along with a mini-digger. Experts from Forensic Science Ireland joined colleagues from the Garda Technical Bureau and members from the Divisional Scene of Crime team and the Divisional Search team in the search.
The search, one of two being conducted, comes as a second person was being questioned about the killing of the boy.
This person, a man, would have been known to the boy. He also knows the woman arrested on Tuesday — the first arrest in the case.
Kyran, who would now be aged eight, was reported missing by his grandmother on August 30 last. Gardaí subsequently said the boy had been taken out of his school in Dundalk at the end of May 2022, when he would have been six, and had not been seen alive since.
The missing person’s case was upgraded to a murder investigation in October.
The murder investigation stepped up significantly in recent days, starting with the unexpected arrest of a main suspect in the case.
This woman had been living in England and had decided, for whatever reason, to come home. When gardaí were alerted of her presence she was immediately arrested.
She was released without charge as gardaí continued with their arrests of other people suspected of being involved in the boy’s death or covering it up.
The second arrest, of the male, was made early on Thursday. He is likely to be released without charge pending any further arrests and the completion of the various searches and the necessary forensic and technical tests.
It is most likely that only that at stage will a file be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions, based on the evidence gathered.
A statement from Garda HQ said: “Gardaí investigating the disappearance and murder of Kyran Durnin (8 years) have completed a search, commenced earlier, at one of the houses in Drogheda. Further details of this search are not being released for operational reasons.”
It said the male arrested on suspicion of murder continued to be detained under section 4 Criminal Justice Act 1984 at a Garda Station in the east of the country. This provision allows for a maximum period of detention of 24 hours, excluding sleep breaks.
The statement went on: “A search at the second house continues and is expected to continue for a period of time. The house and gardens will be subject to intrusive search and subject to technical and forensic examinations.
“The search is being carried out by the Divisional Search team, supported by the Garda National Technical Bureau, Divisional Scene of Crime and Forensic Science Ireland. The search is also being supported by a specialist Cadaver dog.”
It added: “The purpose of these searches are to discover any evidence which might provide us with information as to Kyran’s current whereabouts or what has happened to Kyran.”
It said that gardaí continue to appeal to any person with any information, on the disappearance and murder of Kyran Durnin, no matter how insignificant, to contact the Garda Investigation Team at Drogheda Garda Station on 041 987 4200.
People can also ring the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or speak with any garda.