Gardaí are continuing their search for a young boy in north county Dublin who is feared dead, according to Commissioner Drew Harris. The search is focused on a large area of open land between Donabate and Portrane,with assistance from search dogs.
The case began after a woman made claims to Gardaí that have not been proven, but are being taken seriously. Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, confirmed it made a referral to An Garda Síochána “in relation to our concerns about the safety and wellbeing of this child,” and is sharing all relevant facts with the Gardaí. The boy had apparently vanished without being reported missing.The Children’s Rights Alliance has raised concerns that the Covid-19 pandemic may have contributed to the child not being identified as at risk sooner. Chief Executive Tanya ward questioned on RTÉ radio’s Morning Ireland if the child “slipped through the net as public services did not have the level of contact that they normally would in the ordinary course of events.” She added that the case is ”very disturbing” and requires an autonomous review to determine what happened.