Kyran Durnin: Irish PM says country left ‘utterly heartbroken’ by suspected murder of missing eight-year-old boy | World news

The disappearance of an eight-year-old boy, who police suspect was murdered two years ago, has left Ireland “utterly heartbroken”, the Irish Prime Minister has said.

Simon Harris made the comment as police investigating the disappearance of Kyran Durnin began excavating an area of ​​wasteland behind the boy’s former family home in Dundalk, County Louth.

There was an excavator working on the land after the police search of the terraced house entered its second day.

The police have opened a murder investigation last week after Kyran was reported missing along with his mother on August 30.

It was also reported that he had been seen two days earlier.

Kyran’s mother has been located, but investigators say the boy’s whereabouts remain unknown and he is now presumed dead.

Despite the reported sighting, officers believe he was murdered two years ago.

The property being searched is known to have been the home of Kyran’s family until May 2024, police said.

However, the current tenants are not believed to be connected to the boy’s disappearance.

The property was taken into possession of the Irish police after they obtained a warrant from the district court.

Speaking in the Irish Parliament, Prime Minister Harris said the “saddest and most painful” thing about the case is that no one has asked him where he has been for the past two years.

He added: ‘I don’t think there is anyone on any side of this house, or any person in Ireland, who is not both utterly shocked and heartbroken at what is emerging in relation to the case of the young Kyran Durnin.

“It has nothing to do with the political establishment or any rhetoric. This only has to do with basic humanity.”

Mr Harris continued: “I think for any of us to think that this could happen to any child is deeply troubling, and it will require, and perhaps I should say this right away, there will absolutely be a need for a structure to make this happen. There is no doubt about that.

“But at this point we have to be very aware that the Gardai are very actively investigating this. If we were to say there is a live investigation underway that would be clear.”

The Taoiseach urged anyone with information to contact police.

Read more from Sky News:
Three people found dead in a nursing home
CCTV footage shows escaped prisoner ‘reading news report about manhunt’
Birmingham Airport evacuated and flights suspended

Tusla, Ireland’s children and family organisation, said on Tuesday it had raised “significant concerns” about the missing child with police in August.

“We can confirm that although Kyran was not in Tusla’s care, our services had come into contact with both him and his family,” Tusla said.

“In August 2024 we alerted An Garda Siochana to a significant concern regarding Kyran.

“We have continued to assist and work closely with the gardai since August and, in line with normal practice, all relevant information has been shared.”

Peadar Toibin, an elected representative of the Aontu party, told parliament that Kyran is “one of 227 children who have died or are known to be in state care in the past ten years.”

He said 11 of them are known to have been killed.