Investigating gardaí in Co Louth expect to make significant steps this week in their probe, which it is hoped will lead officers to the remains of the young boy.
“There are a lot of sensitivities around this case. The investigation is about to gather pace,” said a source.
“There is a lot going on behind the scenes. Our priority is to find the remains of the young boy.”
The last confirmed sighting of Kyran was when he was a six-year-old pupil in senior infants in a Dundalk school — more than two years ago. The school has said it was under the impression that his family was moving away, and he would not be returning after June 2022.
A murder investigation was last week launched into the disappearance and suspected killing of the child.
Gardaí believe a small number of people know what happened to Kyran, but his whereabouts remains unknown.
The boy’s mother was located safe and well in the UK – but there was no sign of Kyran
The search for the boy has been likened by gardaí to “looking for a needle in a haystack”, with a lengthy timeline and geographical area to cover.
While his last known sighting was in June 2022, gardaí do not necessarily think that is when he died.
Kyran, who would now be eight, was reported missing in Drogheda on August 30 of this year, as was his mother, Dayla Durnin.
Gardaí were told at the time that he had been last seen two days earlier.
On September 4, gardaí sought the public’s assistance in tracing the whereabouts of Ms Durnin (24) and her son.
In late September, the boy’s mother was located safe and well in the UK – but there was no sign of Kyran.
Gardaí then began to investigate what might have happened to him. Tusla, the child and family agency, is co-operating with the investigation.
Justice Minister Helen McEntee has said that if there were failings in the case, any state agency or individual who has not done their job properly “will be held accountable”.
She described the case as “devastating”.
“It is a very upsetting case when you look at the facts and when you read what has potentially happened,” she added, saying a garda investigation was under way.
“The most important thing is that they understand what has happened and identify where he is.
“Unfortunately, the view is that he is most likely dead and has passed away, but we need to understand what has happened,” she said.
