The skeletal remains of a child have been found in the search for a boy who hasn’t been seen for three years but was never reported missing. Gardaí believe the remains discovered in Donabate, north Dublin, are those of Daniel Aruebose, who was last seen in 2022 when he was just three years old.
The grim discovery was made on Wednesday during an intensive search of open ground on Portrane Road in Donabate, which officers began investigating several weeks ago. Daniel, who would be aged seven today, was only reported to authorities after the Irish child and family agency, Tusla, raised concerns and alerted officers on 29 August.
In a statement, Gardaí said they would “investigate all of the circumstances” surrounding the boy’s disappearance and presumed death. Formal identification will be carried out using DNA analysis, though investigators are confident the remains are those of the missing child.
Family Members Abroad During Investigation
The investigation has revealed troubling details about Daniel’s final years. Gardaí have confirmed they have spoken to members of Daniel’s family, including both parents who are no longer together, as part of their enquiries.
The child’s mother, originally from Africa but an Irish citizen, still resides in Dublin. His Irish father has settled in South America where he is now married. The international dimension of the case has complicated the investigation, with family members being interviewed across multiple jurisdictions.
Sources close to the investigation told The Irish Times that gardaí received information suggesting Daniel died one night and his remains were buried in the field where the skeletal remains have now been discovered. One version of events currently under investigation is that the boy died of natural causes and when efforts to revive him failed, he was taken a short distance and buried at the site.
Woman Led Police to Burial Site
In a significant development, a woman went to the site with gardaí at least twice to pinpoint the precise location where she claimed the remains were buried. This crucial information led investigators to focus their search efforts on the specific area of open ground just outside Donabate.
The search, which began on 1 September, involved significant resources including Police Service of Northern Ireland cadaver dogs, multiple national garda units and external forensic experts. The painstaking operation continued for more than two weeks before Wednesday’s discovery.
Gardaí had been searching the site near The Gallery Apartments in Donabate, where Daniel is known to have resided. Officers conducted a “technical examination” of a flat there on 31 August and have been carrying out house-to-house inquiries throughout the complex.
Minister “Deeply Saddened” by Discovery
Ireland’s Minister for Children, Norma Foley, expressed her deep sadness at the discovery. “The death of a child is always heartbreaking and upsetting but it is especially so for those who knew and loved this child,” she said in a statement.
Ms Foley thanked gardaí and other agencies for their “diligent work” on the search over recent weeks and extended her “very sincere sympathy to all involved.”
The discovery comes at a particularly sensitive time as Ireland grapples with questions about child protection following another high-profile case involving missing child Kyran Durnin, though authorities stress there is no suggestion the two cases are connected.
Echoes of Kyran Durnin Case
Daniel’s case bears disturbing similarities to that of Kyran Durnin, another boy who was six when last seen in 2022. Kyran’s disappearance only came to light in August 2024 when Tusla raised concerns, revealing he had been missing for over two years without being reported.
Two people have been arrested in the Kyran Durnin case, though no charges have been filed and his remains have never been found. That investigation has been upgraded to a murder inquiry, with gardaí having taken more than 570 separate investigative actions.
The apparent similarities between the cases – children missing for years without being reported – have shocked many in Ireland and raised serious questions about child protection systems. Both cases involve significant delays in reporting the children as missing, with concerns only raised by Tusla years after they were last seen.
Previous Tusla Engagement
Tusla has confirmed it had “previous engagement” with Daniel and his family, with services ceasing in 2020. The agency stated that no new referral or information of concern was received about the child between 2020 and August 2025, when they contacted gardaí with concerns for his safety and wellbeing.
“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 in a statement.
The National Review Panel independently reviews cases of serious incidents involving children in care or known to Tusla. Minister Foley has indicated that a rapid review of Tusla’s engagement with Daniel and his family should be completed by the end of the month.
Careful Exhumation Process
Gardaí are currently engaging with the local coroner regarding the discovery of the remains, which will be subject to what authorities describe as “careful and sensitive exhumation from the current burial site.”
The scene has been preserved pending the arrival of the State pathologist and a forensic anthropologist. The Garda Technical Bureau will conduct a forensic examination of the area where the body was found, whilst a specialist forensic paediatric pathologist will be engaged to conduct a post-mortem examination to try to establish the cause of death.
Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly said officers were “not rushing” this investigation and that every resource necessary was available to the investigation team. The investigation is being led by a Senior Investigating Officer based out of an incident room established at Swords garda station.
Public Appeal for Information
Police are urgently appealing to anyone who lived in The Gallery Apartments from July 2019 to the present to get in touch with Swords Garda Station or call a confidential hotline on 1800 666 111, regardless of how insignificant the information might seem.
“Following inquiries carried out and information available, gardaí are satisfied that Daniel has died,” a garda spokesperson confirmed. The force is being supported by numerous national units including the Garda National Technical Bureau in what has become a major investigation.
House-to-house inquiries are continuing at The Gallery complex as investigators attempt to piece together Daniel’s final months and understand how a child could disappear for three years without authorities being alerted.
Questions About Child Protection
The discovery has reignited debates about child protection in Ireland, with many questioning how children can disappear for years without detection. Special Rapporteur on Child Protection, Caoilfhionn Gallagher, recently described the Kyran Durnin case as a “watershed moment” that should prompt fundamental review of systems and approaches.
These cases have highlighted potential gaps in monitoring when children move between jurisdictions or are withdrawn from schools. In Kyran’s case, his school was told he was moving to Northern Ireland, meaning his absence from Irish schools went unnoticed.
Similar questions are likely to arise about Daniel’s case, particularly regarding how a child known to social services could vanish for three years before concerns were raised. The upcoming reviews by both Tusla and the National Review Panel are expected to examine these systemic issues.
Investigation Continues
As the investigation continues, gardaí are working to establish the full circumstances of Daniel’s death and the years of silence that followed. The discovery of his remains represents both a tragic conclusion to the search and the beginning of a complex investigation into how and why he died.
The case has sent shockwaves through Ireland, with many expressing disbelief that a young child could disappear without anyone raising the alarm for such an extended period. The coming weeks are likely to see intense scrutiny of child protection procedures and cross-border information sharing.
For now, investigators continue their painstaking work at the Donabate site, carefully gathering evidence that may finally provide answers about what happened to Daniel Aruebose and why his disappearance went unreported for so long.
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