Gardaí Search North Dublin Site Amid Fears Over Missing Boy

A boy at the centre of an ongoing Garda search—amid fears he may have been killed and secretly buried—had previously spent over a year in state care before being returned to his parents.

The Irish Mirror has confirmed that the child, born in 2018, was placed in the care of Tusla shortly after his birth and remained there until at least his first birthday. He was then returned to his parents in 2020, after initial plans for adoption were abandoned. Sources indicate that the boy, who was three years old when last seen four years ago, had been placed in care because his parents were originally considering adoption. However, during his second year, the parents reversed their decision and the child was reunited with them.

Tusla has confirmed that it had ongoing engagement with the family until 2020 but said there were no further referrals or concerns raised about the boy until August of this year, when staff alerted Gardaí.

In a statement, Tusla said:

“In response to queries about our engagement with this child and family, our priority is to allow An Garda Síochána to conduct their investigation. At the request of the family, our services were involved up until 2020, after which they ceased. No new referrals or concerns were raised until August 2025, when we contacted Gardaí regarding the safety and wellbeing of the child.

As per normal procedure, where a serious incident or death occurs involving a child known to our service, a review of our engagement will be conducted and forwarded to the National Review Panel. While this review is underway, our focus remains on supporting Gardaí in their investigation, and we will not provide further detail at this stage.”

News of the child’s history in care emerged as Gardaí launched a search of open land in north Dublin on Tuesday morning, focusing on a site in Donabate. The investigation, led by officers from Swords Garda Station, began after Tusla raised urgent concerns for the boy’s safety last Friday.

Information received during interviews with people connected to the child pointed Gardaí towards land on Portrane Road, on the outskirts of Donabate. The area was sealed off on Monday evening, with the search commencing the following morning. Specialist resources, including a cadaver dog, were deployed to the site on Tuesday afternoon. As of Tuesday evening, no discovery had been made, but the search is set to continue.

Meanwhile, Gardaí are continuing to question the boy’s parents, who are both being treated as witnesses and are cooperating with the investigation. The mother, originally from Africa and living in Ireland for several years, has told Gardaí she believes her former partner killed the boy. The father, an Irishman now living abroad, has maintained that the child died of natural causes.