Taoiseach says Kyran Durnin was “failed badly” as Dundalk house search continues

Taoiseach Simon Harris said Kyran Durnin was “failed badly” and that something went “extraordinarily wrong” in his case.

Speaking yesterday  as it was announced a house in Dundalk was to be searched (a search which continues this morning), he said: “Like everybody across the country, I’m really hoping for a breakthrough and progress this morning.

“The case of Kyran Durnin is deeply disturbing, deeply upsetting, in fact, I would go so far as to say it’s utterly horrifying.

“For any of us as a human being, for any of us parents, to think that a child can effectively disappear and go unnoticed and not be noticed that they’re not there is utterly heartbreaking and clearly something went extraordinarily wrong here. This child was failed and was failed badly.”

He said he would not “cut across” the Garda investigation, but pledged to “make sure we get to the bottom of this”.

Mr Harris added: “How was this child, an eight-year-old little boy, effectively disappeared and that not be noticed? I think there’s nobody in Ireland, including me, who can comprehend that this morning.

“Whatever needs to be done to establish, from an accountability point of view, how this child was failed, how Kyran was failed, must happen. The most important thing right now in the here and now is for that Garda work that’s actively under way as we speak, to (continue).”

Read Next: Gardai in Dundalk continue to search former Kyran Durnin residence this morning

On Monday, Children’s Minister Roderic O’Gorman said he had asked Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, to send its files on Kyran to a panel which looks into the death of any youngster with links to State care.

He said this would not usually happen until an investigation has been completed, but that he has asked the agency to disclose any case files to the National Review Panel.

Mr O’Gorman said it will help investigators understand Tusla’s involvement in the case.

Gardai are appealing to anyone who has any information in connection with Kyran’s disappearance to contact Drogheda garda station on 041 987 4200, the Garda Confidential Line on (1800) 666 111, or any garda station.