Different boy was presented to social workers after concerns raised about Kyran Durnin
· IrishCentralChild benefit and welfare payments for the tragic child also continued to be paid despite the authorities believing claims the boy had moved to the North.
The revelation comes amid growing concern about serious child protection failures in the case of the missing eight-year-old who gardaí now believe was murdered two years ago.
A source familiar with the investigation into Kyran’s killing this weekend said serious concerns noted by Tusla were not followed through or brought to the attention of gardaí [police].
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And despite officials at the State Child and Family Agency believing claims the boy had moved out of the jurisdiction, welfare and child benefits continued to be paid by the Department of Social Protection.
On Friday evening, Justice Minister Helen McEntee told RTE’s Six One news: "We have a young boy who has not been seen in two years. That’s not acceptable. That’s not to be tolerated by anyone. We need to know what happened here. Any agency or person who has not done their job needs to be held responsible."
Gardaí this week took the highly unusual step of upgrading the missing eight-year-old’s case to a murder investigation, even though his body has not been found.
Different boy presented to social workers
Despite raising concerns about the boy’s welfare more than two years ago after he was found to be living in squalor, attempts to keep track of his whereabouts were "frustrated" as he was moved between schools and addresses.
A source said the file on Kyran was "effectively closed" after Tusla [Child and Family Agency] was told his mother Dayla Durnin had moved to the North.
Over the summer, fresh concerns were raised about Kyran’s welfare, after which a different boy was presented to social workers, and also to a school.
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But despite these serious concerns, gardaí were not notified about this significant development in the case for "months", according to a source. The other boy has since been identified by gardaí.
A source told the MoS: "Tusla were told Kyran and Dayla went North, but local gardaí do not believe they ever did.
"He kept moving house and school and his care was frustrated by this.
"Kyran had not been at school for a couple of years and schools and Tusla were misled."
Belief that Kyran was killed in 2022
The source said "serious concerns" within Tusla about the case "finally made it to gardaí at the end of the summer". But they added: "By that stage, it looked like the child died or was killed and secretly buried.
"But children’s allowance and social welfare payments continued to be paid."
It is believed Kyran may have been killed sometime in 2022.
The last sighting of the child which gardaí have been able to confirm was May 22, 2022, which was around the time the boy was removed from his school. Officials had been under the impression that Kyran had been transferred to a school in the North.
As a consequence, the boy’s long-term absence from school went unnoticed. Tusla subsequently raised concerns about Kyran’s welfare and engaged with family members.
Sources this weekend said the case raises serious questions about child protection measures, but for now, the focus is on progressing the murder investigation and locating Kyran’s remains.
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The MoS has learned the investigation continues to be frustrated by people that gardai are attempting to question. One person even denied who they were when approached by investigators.
They only confirmed their true identity when officers were able to point out their tattoos. A source this weekend called the case "a complete clusterf*** over the years that has now landed with gardaí".
They told the MoS: "Tusla slipped up and fairly panicked over the summer. Their visits [to an address where Kyran was living] document squalor, but then the visits just stopped and closed when told the child was in Northern Ireland.
"The social worker dealing with [the case] was off at one point, and the person who was covering at the time believed when told Kyran had gone North."
Kyran was taken out of school in Dundalk in the summer of 2022.
At the time, Tusla and school authorities believed the boy had moved to a school in the North.
Reported missing
Kyran was officially reported missing from his home in Drogheda, Co. Louth, in late August, alongside his mother, Dayla Durnin, 24.
The official missing persons report dated August 30 stated the child was last seen on August 28 at about 11 am.
But gardaí now suspect Kyran was not with his mother when she went missing. Dayla Durnin was located in the UK without her son a short time later.
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Tusla is cooperating with gardaí in their investigation and has handed over a large amount of documentation relating to Kyran after officers obtained a District Court warrant.
No arrests have yet been made in relation to the boy’s disappearance or murder. Detectives believe a number of people they have spoken to have important information about Kyran’s death, but a source said explanations have changed since the boy was officially reported missing in August.
The Garda case into Kyran’s death has been given priority status and significant resources have been devoted to the investigation.
Gardaí yesterday said they are confident of progress. Investigators hope the opening of a formal murder inquiry may prompt people suspected of holding important information to cooperate.
It will also grant gardaí additional resources and stronger legal powers to secure evidence. An incident room has been established in Drogheda Garda station and a senior officer has been assigned to oversee the case. In a statement this week, gardaí said Kyran was "missing presumed dead.
"Despite extensive enquiries carried out by Gardaí to date, An Garda Síochána has been unable to either locate Kyran, identify any information on his current whereabouts or any evidence that he is currently alive," the statement said.
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"Following enquiries to date, investigating Gardaí now believe that Kyran is missing presumed dead.
"A murder investigation has been commenced."
Gardaí have appealed to anyone who has any information in connection with Kyran’s disappearance to contact them.
They stressed "any information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, will be welcomed by the investigation team".
In response to queries from the MoS, Tusla said it cannot comment on individual cases, but added it is "conscious that there is an ongoing Garda investigation into this sensitive case".
The agency said in a statement: "Tusla has been working closely with An Garda Síochána in accordance with our Joint Working Protocol and our legal obligations, and we will continue to work closely with Gardaí and other parties as required at this time."
* This article was originally published on Extra.ie.