KYRAN Durnin may have died months before he was reported missing to Gardai, it has been revealed.
A murder probe has been launched following the disappearance of the eight-year-old boy, who was reported missing from his home in Drogheda, Co Louth on August 30.
The missing person appeal for the youngster was stood down yesterday morning.
Gardai said yesterday that they have not been able to find any information on his current whereabouts or “any evidence” that he is currently alive.
A Garda spokesperson said: “Following enquiries to date, investigating Gardai now believe that Kyran is missing presumed dead.
“A murder investigation has been commenced.”
The investigation is being led by a Senior Investigation Officer based out of an incident room established at Drogheda Garda Station.
No arrests have been made and the investigation has been described as “ongoing”.
Gardai are attempting to establish exactly what happened surrounding the complex and highly sensitive case.
They have issued an urgent appeal to the public, noting that “any information, no matter how insignificant it may seem” will be welcomed by investigators.
However, five key questions surrounding Kyran’s disappearance still remain.
Kyran and his mum Dayla Durnin were reported missing from their home in Drogheda by a concerned woman known to them.
The missing persons report was filed on August 30.
And Gardai were told that the little boy and his mum Dayla were last seen at around 11pm on August 28 – two days prior to the report being made.
However, detectives do not believe this sighting was accurate.
Kyran was described as being 3 feet 3 inches in height, with a medium build, brown eyes and brown hair.
And Gardai had been told he was last seen wearing a navy zip-up windbreaker and black runners.
They have been involved in an investigation into his whereabouts for over six weeks.
Dayla, who is 24-years-old, has been located alive in the UK and the missing persons appeal was stood down for her yesterday morning.
However, with no sign of missing son Kyran, investigators in Drogheda declared a murder inquiry.
This took place minutes after the missing persons report for Dayla was stood down.
Dayla’s mum Rhonda Byrne Tyson told the Drogheda Life website she last saw Dayla on the night of Wednesday, August 28 when she went to bed at 11pm.
She added that Dayla had recently been diagnosed with type one diabetes and and now she “has to inject herself five times a day”.
The grandmother said she had been calling Dayla’s mobile every day, but it was not working and the calls were going straight to voicemail.
Speaking to DroghedaLife last week, she added: “I’m worried sick. I know that she got a supply of medication recently but I’m terrified about what will happen when that runs out.”
On the night that Dayla was last seen by her mother Rhonda, she left a note on the table of the Drogheda home.
Rhonda said that the 24-year-old wrote in the note that she “needed to get away for a few days”.
Pleading directly to Dayla last week, Rhonda said: “I know you are a strong and independent woman but we can all get a bit overwhelmed at times and things can get on top of us.
“Please pick up the phone and tell us you and Kyran are ok.”
Two of Dayla’s three children were being cared for by her mother when the 24-year-old was reported missing.
It is extremely rare for Gardai to upgrade missing persons cases to murder.
But despite a major search and repeated public appeals for help in tracing him, no sign of the boy has been found.
Gardai yesterday said that despite “extensive enquiries”, they have been unable to locate Kyran, identify any information on his current whereabouts or “any evidence that he is currently alive”.
Although they have yet to find a body, they fear that he has been murdered.
A senior source told us yesterday that there has been a “huge amount of investigation” done so far.
They continued: “There is no substantive proof of life in regards to the boy and with the large amount of information gathered by Gardai in Drogheda, it has led to the belief that he was murdered.
“It is an incredibly complex investigation but every effort is being made to find out where the boy is and what happened.”
The Irish Sun also learned that officers here are working with Interpol and UK authorities on the investigation.
Gardai have not definitively ruled out the possibility that Kyran could have died accidentally.
The Gardai’s main focus is Kyran’s location.
Investigations are still ongoing to establish the timeline of events and confirm exactly when he was last seen alive.
There is no crime scene and no body has been found. No arrests have been made.
Detectives are trying to establish if the child had stayed at different locations between the time he was last seen alive and the time he was reported missing.
Gardai yesterday confirmed that Tusla, Ireland’s Child and Family Agency, is working closely with and fully co-operating with the garda investigation.
Members of the public who may have any information have been urged to come forward and assist Gardai with their investigations.
A Garda spokesperson said yesterday: “Gardai are appealing to anyone who has any information in connection with the disappearance of Kyran to contact Drogheda Garda Station on 041 987 4200 , the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda Station.
“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.”
