The search team involved in the investigation into the murder of schoolboy Kyran Durnin has been left 'heartbroken' after failing to find any evidence during their three-day search of a house and garden in Drogheda.
The thorough search of the property, belonging to a woman known to six-year-old Kyran, began on Wednesday morning with the aim of uncovering any clues related to the boy's death and the potential location of his remains.
However, no trace of Kyran, who was ill when last seen in the summer of 2022, was found. After three days of searching and excavating the back garden, the search concluded on Friday evening.
Despite the lack of evidence regarding Kyran's remains, the murder investigation continues and investigators will now conduct a review and analysis of all information and findings gathered so far in the inquiry.
The Irish Mirror has revealed that the personnel involved in the search are 'heartbroken' that they did not locate the remains of Kyran, who is presumed murdered.
Sources told the Irish Mirror: "The search team worked extremely hard at this search and the three previous searches.
"They really hoped that Kyran would be found and that he'd be given a proper burial.
"The team is heartbroken as this property was the last option for a search - unless investigators receive further information as to Kyran's whereabouts," the source said to the Irish Mirror.
Earlier, they reported on the heart-wrenching scene as Kyran's father arrived at the location where police were searching a house and garden on Thursday.
Overcome with emotion, he exclaimed: "Murdering scum. He's my son. Youse don't understand."
Kyran's dad, who is not a suspect in the murder investigation of the six-year-old boy, walked the street to the property being searched on Thursday afternoon, accompanied by friends.
They stopped outside the home for several moments before he became visibly shaken and cried out, 'He's my son. Youse don't understand."
The residence, a two-storey semi-detached house with a back garden, is associated with a woman who knew the missing child.
It's also the property where gardai were informed he was last seen in August 2023 - an account gardai have since dismissed.
The search wrapped up after three days on Friday evening and marked the fourth such search in the ongoing murder inquiry for Kyran, who has been missing since June 2022.
Detectives are operating under the belief that the young boy may have died up to two and a half years ago.
Sources told the Irish Sunday Mirror there was concern from the public over photos of renovation works completed to the back garden posted to social media in June 2022, but sources have stressed gardai have stated the last known sightings of Kyran - who would have been eight years old now - was after these works.
The ongoing inquiry into a schoolboy's disappearance has seen the arrest of a man and a woman on suspicion of murder, though both have since been released without charge.
On Wednesday morning, gardai from the Technical Bureau commenced a forensic and technical examination of the property and back garden in the hope of uncovering evidence linked to the disappearance and suspected murder of Kyran.
A mechanical digger was introduced to the scene on Wednesday and continued its work until Friday evening.
Local residents have been closely watching the latest developments, with one expressing hope: "Please God they find some evidence of the whereabouts of little Kyran and he can be given a proper burial.
"I am glad that they have started the search here. This case has been going on since last August when the news broke Kyran was missing. And it's nearly three years now since he was last seen.
"I just don't understand why someone won't say where Kyran is and let the poor child rest in peace."
The most recent search marks the fourth since last November, just a month after the murder investigation was initiated by detectives at Drogheda Garda Station in October 2024.
In December, a forensic examination of a house and garden on Beechwood Drive in Drogheda was conducted, along with another search at a different property in the Co Louth town.
The Beechwood Drive residence belonged to suspect Anthony Maguire, 36, who was arrested in December as part of the investigation and interrogated by gardai before being released without charge. He took his own life just days later.
Sources suggest that Maguire was suspected of arranging for a 'decoy' child to be presented to authorities at Tusla, the Child and Family Agency earlier this year - in an attempt to convince them he was Kyran.
However, this attempt raised suspicions among authorities, who eventually relayed their concerns to the Gardaí.
Maguire left a note at the scene and gardai had hoped that Maguire - a convicted criminal - might have left some information about the case.
However, the note did not mention the missing boy and only referred to other personal issues unrelated to the case.
The initial search for any evidence of the missing schoolboy occurred in November at a house and garden as well as wasteland near the house on Emer Street in Dundalk, the former home of Kyran, where he and his family resided for a period of time until May 2024.
Gardai have stressed that the current occupants of the house under investigation are not linked to Kyran or his disappearance.
In a statement released on Wednesday, when the search began, Gardai said: "Despite the public support and extensive and ongoing enquiries carried out by Gardaí to date, An Garda Síochána have been unable to locate Kyran. Kyran would now be eight years-old."
Gardai also warned about ongoing extensive public commentary on this investigation, including speculation, rumours and theories on what may have happened to Kyran, most of which gardai say is "inaccurate and misinformed."
They added: "Such ill-informed public commentary is not only disruptive to the Garda investigations but also adds to the trauma experienced by victims' families."
The statement continued: "Investigating Gardaí have to date received extensive support from the public.
"An Garda Síochána continues 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 how insignificant it may seem, will be welcomed by the investigation team. This information will be treated in the strictest confidence,"
The Garda investigation team can be reached at Drogheda Garda Station on 041 987 4200, the Garda Confidential Line on (1800) 666 111 or any Garda Station.
The investigation is ongoing.
For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.
English (United States) ·