Kyran Durnin: Former family home searched after disappearance
Gardaí search family's former home for missing boy
Family handout
Kyran Durnin was reported missing from his home in Drogheda in August
Gardaí (Irish police) investigating the suspected murder of an eight-year-old boy are searching his former family home in Dundalk, County Louth.
Kyran Durnin was reported missing along with his mother, from the family's current home in Drogheda at the end of August.
Kyran's 24-year-old mother Dayla Durnin was subsequently located but there has been no sign of the boy.
Last week, gardaí upgraded their missing child inquiry to a murder investigation, saying they believed Kyran is "missing and presumed dead".
Current tenants 'are not connected in anyway'
Niall Carson/PA Wire
A forensic search is taking place in Emer Terrace, Dundalk, on Tuesday
Irish broadcaster RTÉ News has previously reported that gardaí believe he may have been killed more than two years ago.
On Tuesday morning, Chief Superintendent Alan McGovern addressed reporters outside Dundalk Garda station, flanked by two images of the missing Kyran Durnin.
He confirmed that the location of the search is a rented house in Emer Terrace in Dundalk town.
He said the property is known to have been the home of Kyran's family for a period of years until May 2024.
Gardaí took possession of the house on Monday, acting under a search warrant.
Ch Supt McGovern explained there will be forensic and technical examinations of the house, garden and adjoining open ground.
"I must emphasise that the current tenants of this house are not connected in anyway with Kyran or his disappearance," the officer added.
Garda vehicles have been parked at a number of locations along Emer Terrace
He also told the gathered reporters that Kyran was a student at a local school in Dundalk until the end of the 2021/22 school year.
Last month, gardaí issued a missing persons appeal for both Kyran and his mother.
Ch Supt McGovern said that when their disappearance was reported on 30 August, gardaí were told they had been last seen "on or about" 28 August 2024.
"Despite extensive enquiries carried out by gardaí to date, An Garda Síochána (Irish police force) have been unable to either locate Kyran, identify any information on his current whereabouts or any evidence that he is currently alive," the officer said.
The murder investigation, which began last week, is based from an incident room at Drogheda Garda Station and is under the direction of a senior investigation officer.
"An Garda Síochána's sole focus and primary concern, and that of the investigation team, is Kyran," Ch Supt McGovern said.
"We want to discover where Kyran is. We want to discover what has happened to Kyran."
Ch Supt Alan McGovern spoke to reporters outside Dundalk Garda station
He also thanked members of the public who have contacted the investigation team so far, but he urged other witnesses to come forward.
"Please do not assume that the investigation team know the information that you may have," he said.
"Any information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, will be welcomed."
The officer added that any information given about Kyran's disappearance "will be treated in the strictest confidence".
The Irish child welfare organisation Tulsa is co-operating with the investigation.
