A boy who has been missing from Dublin for up to four years, and is now feared dead, was in care for a period during the early years of his life, The Irish Times has learned.
He was then returned to the family setting before vanishing, apparently because he had died and his remains had been disposed of.
Gardaí believe the child, who would be aged seven if still alive, vanished when aged about three years old, though his disappearance apparently went unnoticed.
In reply to queries, child and family agency Tusla said “at the request of the family, our services had previous engagement with this child and their family, and these services ceased in 2020″.
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It added “no new referral or new information of concern was received” until last week when it contacted gardaí to flag its concerns for the child’s welfare.
“As is normal process, where there is a serious incident or death involving a child open to, or previously known to, our service, we conduct a review of our engagement and that review is sent to the National Review Panel.”
Tusla said it was responding to queries in an attempt “to be open and transparent with the public without impacting” the Garda investigation now under way.
Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly said that the investigation, which began last Friday, had so far been “unable to either locate the boy, identify any information about his current whereabouts or evidence that he’s currently alive”.
He added it was an offence to withhold information during Garda investigations and that the inquiry was a “huge priority” for the Garda.
A search for the boy’s remains started in the morning at open ground off Portrane Road just outside Donabate in north Co Dublin after gardaí sealed off the area on Monday night.
A Garda search team could be seen combing the site throughout the day, with a cadaver dog brought on to the land for a time. One specific area was cordoned off at about teatime.
The search operation was expected to resume on Wednesday morning and may continue for several days as excavation is anticipated.
Investigating officers, based at Swords Garda station in north Dublin, have spoken to members of the boy’s family, including his parents, since the alarm was raised late last week.
It appears a social welfare payment related to the child was being claimed and that checks made about the boy, to support the claim, gave rise to concern.
Tusla was informed and last Friday it raised its concerns for the boy’s welfare with the Garda.
An investigation started subsequently and, based on speaking to some people linked to the child, gardaí now strongly suspect he has been dead for several years.
They sealed off the plot of land on the outskirts of Donabate on suspicion that the boy’s remains may have been buried there, in an apparent attempt to conceal his death.
Gardaí are trying to establish how the child died, specifically whether it was accidental, due to natural causes or if foul play was a factor.
Over the weekend, a property at The Gallery, Donabate, was sealed off for a Garda search and forensic examination. Gardaí believe the child lived there around the time he vanished.
Garda Headquarters said the investigation was being led by a senior investigating officer from an incident room at Swords Garda station. It urged anyone with information to come forward.
