GARDAI investigating the murder of Kyran Durnin began searching another property today as they seek to find the missing schoolboy.
The Irish Sun can reveal cops have taken control of a nearby derelict property which is being used as an “access point” to the home currently being searched in Drogheda, Co Louth.
Gardai are continuing their search for missing schoolboy Kyran Durnin[/caption]
And officers have not ruled out searching the back garden of the empty property as part of their efforts to find schoolboy Kyran.
But the main focus for the Garda team is the home which was owned by a woman known to Kyran, who would now be eight if alive.
A source said: “The house will be searched from top to bottom along with the back garden as part of the ongoing efforts to uncover evidence about the child’s murder.”
The search is taking place in the area where Kyran was reported missing from on August 28, 2024.
We can reveal the woman known to Kyran was present when the Garda team arrived at the property in the early hours of today.
She has continued to live in Drogheda since detectives upgraded the missing child case to a murder inquiry last October.
However, the women is currently understood to be staying with pals outside the town.
Investigators are searching the property for evidence which might provide answers around the young lad’s disappearance.
It’s the fourth property to be searched since Gardai launched their murder inquiry six months ago.
We understand the extensive search could last until Friday.
Overhead shots of the rear garden show various items — such as windows, wooden plants and sheets of metal — strewn around the yard.
A mini excavator was brought into the pad’s back garden today and was seen digging up parts.
The home was cordoned off by barriers as members of the Garda Technical Bureau search team came and went during the day.
ITEM REMOVED
Officers removed a number of items from inside the house and they are now being examined.
They are also searching for clues as part of their efforts to establish if the child was present inside the property, and also in the garden.
A shed at the rear of the property was also forensically examined.
One source said: “This phase of the investigation is about seeking to establish evidence that may indicate that Kyran was at the property.
“The derelict house was taken to give gardai greater access to the main focus of the property.
“It’s also possible the derelict house could be searched due to its close proximity to the other property.”
‘NO PROOF OF LIFE’
Kyran was reported missing along with his mother, Dayla, last August.
But after Gardai established his mother had been living in the UK, they upgraded the case to a murder inquiry after establishing there was “no proof of life” of Kyran.
Detectives later identified how the last public sighting of the child was in June 2022 when he was at school.
Gardai are seeking to establish if Kyran had been staying at the pad at the time he was first reported missing, or at another property.
The woman who lives in the house has already made numerous statements to Gardai.
PRAYERS FOR KYRAN
One local resident told The Irish Sun: “People are still genuinely heartbroken that this child could vanish without a trace.
“Everyone is just praying for the child to be found so he can be given a Christian burial.
Cops confirmed the search was underway.
They said: “Gardai investigating the disappearance and murder of Kyran Durnin commenced a search of a domestic residence in Drogheda.
“The house will be subject of technical and forensic examinations.
PUBLIC APPEAL
“The purpose of the search is to discover any evidence which might provide us with information as to Kyran’s current whereabouts or what has happened to Kyran.
“Investigating gardai have to date received extensive support from the public.
“Despite the public support and extensive ongoing enquiries, An Garda Siochana have been unable to locate Kyran.
“An Garda Siochana continue to appeal to the public, notwithstanding all the information that is in the public domain, do not assume that the investigation team know the information that you may have.
“Any information, no matter who insignificant it may seem, will be welcomed by the investigation team.
“This information will be treated in the strictest confidence.”
MINISTER’S PLEA
Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan also urged the public not to focus on rumours about the case.
The Fianna Fail TD said: “The Gardai perform an absolutely invaluable task when it comes to investigating serious offences.
“There is an investigation going on into that case at present and the Gardai need to be given an opportunity in respect of carrying out that investigation.
“Let the Gardai do their job and when there is any conclusion to the investigation or a file sent to the DPP or issues like that we will be aware of that.”
The Minister added: “I am concerned that it took so long to find out about the child being missing in the first instance but in fairness when it comes to An Garda Siochana they are doing their best to try deal with this criminal investigation.”
LINES OF INQUIRY
Gardai have followed hundreds of lines of inquiry to date.
They have also taken dozens of statements and examined hours of CCTV footage as they attempt to unravel the mystery.
They also arrested a woman and Drogheda man Anthony Maguire, 36, about Kyran’s disappearance but no one has been charged so far.
Maguire, who was a “key person of interest”, took his own life after he was released from custody.
