Gardaí Deploy Heavy Machinery in Search for Missing Boy’s Remains in North Dublin

Dublin, September 7:Gardaí are expected to bring in heavy machinery today as part of their search for the remains of a young boy believed to be buried on a large site outside Donabate, north Dublin.

According to sources, officers will use a digger to scrape away layers of soil in the hope of locating the child, who was three years old when last seen in 2021. The search, now entering its fifth day, began after the boy’s mother indicated a location on the Portrane Road where she said her son was buried.

Specialist officers have already carried out a fingertip search of the area, supported by a cadaver dog trained to detect human remains. While the initial location identified by the mother yielded no findings, the search area was widened on Friday, with the dog brought back to assist.

Much of the land is heavily overgrown and requires clearing before a full excavation can take place. Garda sources say it is possible the mother misremembered the precise burial site due to the passage of time, but they believe the remains are still within the general area. “A place can change a lot in four years, so it may have been difficult for her to remember the exact spot,” one source noted.

Background to the Case
The boy’s mother initially alleged that her son was killed by a man known to the family in 2021. However, investigators have since received information suggesting the child may have died of natural causes. It is alleged the parents panicked and buried the body at the Donabate site now under investigation.

The child’s father, an Irish national, has since left the country, while the mother, originally from Africa but long resident in Ireland, remains here.

Uncertainty Over Recovery
Gardaí acknowledge that establishing a cause of death will only be possible if the remains are recovered and examined by a pathologist. However, there are concerns that the shallow burial—reportedly only a few feet deep—may have left the site vulnerable to disturbance by vermin or animals. If so, investigators fear the remains may have been dispersed, making it difficult or even impossible to determine how the child died.

Ongoing Investigation
As of Saturday, no arrests have been made and no individual is being treated as a suspect. Gardaí from Swords Station, who are leading the search, continue to appeal for witnesses with any information to come forward.