Gardaí Seek Tusla Reports in Probe of Missing Schoolboy Kyran Durnin
Ardee News and Sport –Gardaí investigating the disappearance of eight-year-old Kyran Durnin are keen to examine internal Tusla reports as they attempt to trace the schoolboy’s last confirmed interactions with his primary school. Kyran, reported missing from his home in Co Louth last August, is suspected to have been murdered over two years ago.
Detectives have uncovered that Kyran was withdrawn from school at the end of May 2022, yet school records show him as attending through the end of the term in June. Gardaí are now working to verify his presence at school during this period through eyewitness accounts. “When you are asking people to remember a particular event on a particular day, it can be hard when that was two-and-a-half years ago,” a source noted.
The internal Tusla report on Kyran’s education, along with another report, was submitted to the Government last month amid public outcry over how the disappearance of a child could remain undetected for two years. The report examined information held by Education Support Services regarding Kyran’s schooling and was provided to Children’s Minister Roderic O’Gorman and Education Minister Norma Foley.
Tusla’s chief executive, Kate Duggan, disclosed to RTÉ that the agency received no referrals from Kyran’s school concerning his attendance or education between 2022 and 2024. “What we know is that Kyran was in school in May 2022, and what we know is that we haven’t received any referral of concern since then,” Duggan stated.
In May 2022, Kyran’s mother, Dayla Durnin, informed the school that her son had contracted Covid-19 and was hospitalized, without specifying when he would return. She later claimed Kyran had relocated to Northern Ireland. Gardaí, however, have been unable to substantiate either explanation.
Kyran lived with his mother and two younger siblings in Dundalk in 2022. Last October, gardaí conducted a detailed search of his former family home and surrounding land. Since launching a murder investigation, authorities have been reviewing an extensive amount of information submitted by the public.
“All the information is being assessed. Everything people send in is being looked at and evaluated, clarified, proved or disproved,” a source said.
The Department of Education has declined to comment on individual cases, citing the ongoing garda investigation into this sensitive matter.
Gardaí urge anyone with information about Kyran’s disappearance to contact Drogheda Garda Station at 041 987 4200, the Garda Confidential Line at 1800 666 111, or any garda station.