Kyran Durnin search turns attention to wasteland where murdered ...

18 Nov 2024

Gardai searching for evidence linked to the disappearance of missing Kyran Durnin are to search wastegroud where part of the dismembered body of a murdered teenager was found, it is claimed.

Kyran Durnin - Figure 1
Photo Belfast Live

The area in Drogheda, Co Louth, where the torso of 17-year-old Keane Mulready-Woods was located, is one of three locations expected to be searched this week.

Eight-year-old Kyran - who is presumed dead - has not been seen since May 2022 when he was six years of age. He was reported missing to An Garda Siochana on Friday, August 30.

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A murder investigation was launched by investigators at Drogheda Garda Station into the disappearance of Kyran, who has been potentially missing for nearly two and a half years. The investigation continues and at least three locations in Drogheda are to be searched this week.

These include a property and garden on Hand Street, an area of Beechwood and the wasteland at Hillview near Rathmullan Park where the torso of murdered teen Keane Mulready-Woods was located in March 2021. Keane, whose murder and dismemberment shocked the nation, was last seen alive in the town on January 12, 2020.

The following day, some of the teen's dismembered body parts were found in a holdall in the Moatview area of Dublin. Two days later his head, hands and feet were found in a burning car in Drumcondra in Dublin.

A year later, in March 2021, Keane's torso was discovered during a three-day search of waste ground at Hillview near Rathmullan park by gardai who were acting on key intelligence for the search operation.

Kyran Durnin - Figure 2
Photo Belfast Live

"New searches and digs are planned for this week in Drogheda including the wasteland where Keane's torso was found and the wasteland behind Beechwood is also a probable place for a search," a source told The Irish Mirror.

"A house and garden on Hand Street will also be thoroughly searched for any evidence of the missing boy before moving onto the other sites."

Two weeks ago, gardai searched the former home of Kyran, a rented house and garden on Emer Terrace in Dundalk, Co Louth, as well as wasteland behind a six foot wall to the rear of the back garden. However, those searches and excavation works are understood not to have yielded any significant evidence.

Gardai have confirmed they have received a huge amount of information from the public and all those leads are being followed up. The movements, telephone records and social media and messaging app records of "people of interest" in the case are also being reviewed.

Keane Mulready-Woods (Image: PA)

Meanwhile, Minister for Children Roderic O'Gorman said he received a report from Tusla about the child and family agency's engagement with Kyran and his family. Kyran had contact with at least one Tusla social worker before he disappeared.

A separate report has been delivered to Education Minister Norma Foley relating to Tusla's Education Support Service, which falls within the jurisdiction of the Department of Education.

That report addresses the interaction between Kyran and school authorities. Tusla has said it raised a "significant concern" around the missing child to gardai in August. Gardai are still hopeful someone who knows what happened to Kyran will come forward.

Anyone who has any information in connection with the disappearance of Kyran is asked to contact Drogheda Garda Station on 041 987 4200, the Garda Confidential Line on (1800) 666 111 or any Garda station.

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