Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
LAST UPDATE | 17 Sep 2025
GARDAÍ SEARCHING FOR missing boy Daniel Aruebose in north county Dublin have discovered the skeletal remains of a child.
They believe that the remains are that of Daniel, who would now be seven years old.
Gardaí are currently engaging with the local coroner on the discovery of the remains, which will be subject to “careful and sensitive exhumation from the current burial site”.
Formal identification will be carried out using DNA analysis.
An Garda Síochána is currently engaging with the local coroner in relation to the discovery of these remains.
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.
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.
Minister for Children Norma Foley said she is “deeply saddened” that the remains of a young child have been discovered in north Dublin.
“The death of a child is always heartbreaking and upsetting but it is especially so for those who knew and loved this child. I extend my very sincere sympathy to all involved,” she said, and thanked gardaí and other agencies for their work in the search.
I would like to thank the members of An Garda Siochána and other agencies for their diligent work on this search over recent weeks.
Speaking to reporters at Government Buildings, Foley said she expected a “rapid review” of the case to be completed “very shortly”, adding that it was her expectation it would be with her Department by the end of the month.
She also said that “wellbeing checks” on children in 42,000 cases that were closed by Tusla while schools were closed during the Covid pandemic would be “independently managed”. Tusla CEO Kate Duggan previously said the checks would be conducted on 38,000 cases.
A chairperson for the review has been identified and will be announced “early next week”, the Minister said.
Asked today if there should be a framework on monitoring, Foley said she is already working on a system using data from the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme.
“Almost 96% of all children attend the ECCE – those two years before going to school – and I would like to see that we might be able to use that information for those children that are registered, that there would be a sharing of that information.
That would become part of our, I suppose, ‘check in’ to ensure those children are doing okay.
Foley said she may take further action under an ongoing legislative review and added: “I won’t limit it to that, I’ll look at all other examples as well.”
A statement from An Garda Síochána said the police service “is aware of the extensive public commentary on this investigation”.
“An Garda Síochána appeals to every members of the public to verify any content that they may be seeing in relation to this investigation, including speculation, rumours and theories on what may have happened to Daniel.
“An Garda Síochána appeals to all members of the public to independently verify any information that you are reading on social media and/ or messaging apps.”
With reporting from Jane Moore
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
have your say