LAST UPDATE | 18 Sep 2025

Daniel Aruebose when he was a baby in foster care in 2018. Provided to The Journal Provided to The Journal

THE REMAINS OF a child believed to be Daniel Aruebose are expected to be fully exhumed today after their discovery by gardaí in Donabate yesterday. 

It is understood that a forensic anthropologist and other experts will be brought in by gardaí to examine the grave site and then the remains. 

A post mortem examination will be carried out and it is understood that gardaí will depend on a DNA sample to confirm that it is the remains of Daniel.

It’s understood gardaí hope expedited DNA tests could allow formal identification within the next 24 hours.

Sources have said that a decision will be taken at that stage on what the next course of action will be for investigators.

The discovery of the remains has shaken the north County Dublin community and those who were close to Daniel, including his foster sister, who told The Journal she was devastated by the news that his remains had likely been found. 

Daniel had lived at The Gallery Apartments in Donabate, but has not been seen for a number of years. Concerns for his welfare were raised to gardaí by the child and family agency Tusla on 29 August. 

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Gardaí say they are confident that Daniel is deceased after carrying out enquiries. There has been a significant garda presence at a site in Donabate near the apartments where Daniel lived for the last two weeks as gardaí searched the area for his remains. 

The search began on 1 September. It involved PSNI cadaver dogs, a number of national garda units and external forensic experts.

Tusla has previously said it engaged with the boy from 2017 at the request of his biological family but that its services ceased in 2020, when he was two years old.  

Earlier this month, Children’s Minister Norma Foley said that the biological parents originally wanted to give their child up for adoption but through their interactions with Tusla, the fostering arrangement was established. Months after the couple decided to have the child returned to them, Tusla’s engagement ceased.