Irish police say skeletal remains found in open ground in Donabate, Co Dublin, are believed to belong to Daniel Aruebose, a boy who has been missing for several years. Daniel would have turned seven this year if he were alive. Tusla, the child and family agency, raised concerns about his welfare on 29 August. Gardaí began a wide search in the Donabate area on 1 September, and the discovery was made on Wednesday. Officers say the remains will undergo formal identification and DNA testing in due course, and will be exhumed from the current burial site with care.

At the scene on Wednesday evening a large number of Gardaí and forensic investigators remained present, with excavators at work and several areas blocked from view by marquees. Outside the cordon, bouquets were laid by mourners, with signs reading messages such as ‘Rest peacefully Angel’ and ‘RIP Daniel, rest well’. Gardai have asked anyone with information to contact the investigation team at Swords Garda Station on 01 666 4700, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station. Investigations are supported by the National Technical Bureau, the Air Support Unit and the Dog Unit, and an external forensic anthropologist and archaeologist are assisting, alongside cadaver dogs from the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

Police say they are aware of public commentary and have urged people to verify any information they hear. Children’s Minister Norma Foley said she was deeply saddened by the discovery and thanked An Garda Siochana and other agencies for their work. Tusla previously said it had engaged with Daniel and his parents up to 2020 at the family’s request, including a fostering arrangement, but the parents later decided to keep the child and the case was closed as appropriate. The matter has been referred to the National Independent Review Panel. Ms Foley also noted that Tusla would undertake wellbeing checks on cases closed during the pandemic. The disappearance of Daniel occurred around the one-year anniversary of Kyran Durnin, another child missing and now feared dead. He would be nine this year if alive; a murder investigation began in October. He was last seen in May 2022 at a Dundalk primary school, and authorities believe he may have died aged six.