Private Meeting Set to Investigate Missing Schoolboy Kyran Durnin

The case of missing Louth schoolboy Kyran Durnin, who is presumed dead, will be addressed in a private meeting of the Oireachtas Committee on Children and Equality later this month. This meeting, scheduled for the week following the Dáil’s return on September 17, 2024, comes as concerns grow regarding the circumstances surrounding the child’s disappearance and the role of State agencies in protecting vulnerable children.

Kyran was reported missing in September 2024, following a troubling background that included prior involvement with Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. Ruairí Ó Murchú, a member of the committee and a representative for Louth, emphasized the urgent need to evaluate the effectiveness of State agencies in safeguarding children. He noted that the cases of Kyran and another missing child from Dublin have raised “huge questions” about how these agencies handle vulnerable children.

In the upcoming private session, the committee is expected to invite various agencies, with Tusla likely being a primary focus. Deputy Ó Murchú has previously raised the Kyran Durnin case in committee discussions, specifically questioning Tusla CEO Kate Duggan about the potential for earlier interventions for at-risk families. He stated, “Not only do we need to know what happened to the two missing children, but we also urgently need to ensure that better checks are put in place to protect vulnerable children.”

The Gardaí in Louth have renewed their appeal for information regarding Kyran’s case, which has included over 570 investigative actions, two arrests, multiple property searches, and reviews of more than 29,500 hours of CCTV footage. Kyran was last seen in June 2022 at the age of six. In August 2024, he was reported missing alongside his mother, who was later located in the UK without him. The Gardaí subsequently declared him “missing presumed dead” in September, prompting extensive searches in Dundalk and Drogheda.

Despite two arrests made in December, no charges have been filed. Tusla has indicated that there were no concerns regarding Kyran between 2022 and 2024, although a “significant concern” emerged in August 2024. The Gardaí continue to work closely with Tusla, stressing that even minor details could be vital to the ongoing investigation.

Deputy Ó Murchú also welcomed the recent announcement that Tusla will conduct welfare checks on approximately 38,000 children it had contact with during the COVID-19 lockdowns of 2020 and 2021. He emphasized the need for a systematic approach wherein closed cases receive follow-up checks to ensure the well-being of children.

He stated, “We need to know for certain that no other child has fallen through the system. The public deserves that certainty.” Ó Murchú expressed concern over the gaps in protocols for accounting for children under school age, urging that these issues be addressed promptly to prevent further tragedies.

As the investigation continues, the focus remains on locating both Kyran Durnin and the missing child from Dublin, with the Gardaí urging the public to come forward with any information that could assist in resolving these distressing cases.