Remains found in search for missing boy removed

Daniel Aruebose, pictured here when he was about two years old

Human skeletal remains that gardaí (Irish police) believe are those of Daniel Aruebose have been exhumed and removed from wasteland in County Dublin.

A forensic examination has concluded for the day at the Portrane Road site in Donabate, where gardaí were ensuring that all skeletal, evidential and forensic material has been gathered, Irish broadcaster RTÉ has reported.

A paediatric post-mortem will now be conducted to establish the cause of death, which could take some time to determine. DNA samples will also be taken to confirm the child's identity.

It comes as calls for an independent statutory review into the case were raised in the Dáil (lower house of parliament) on Thursday.

Floral tributes were left at the site in Donabate on Thursday

Daniel is believed to have been missing for a number of years and would be seven years old.

Concerns for Daniel's whereabouts had been raised last month by Tusla, the Irish state agency responsible for child welfare and protection.

An area of open ground in the village, which lies to the north of Dublin, had been the subject of a search for a number of weeks.

Daniel lived in The Gallery Apartments in Donabate, where an examination was first carried out on Sunday 31 August.

Government to keep 'open mind'

Simon Harris said it is a 'horrific situation'

The case was raised during leaders questions in the Dáil by Social Democrats deputy leader Cian O'Callaghan.

He said an independent statutory review should be launched in the case of every missing child known to Tusla.

Tánaiste (deputy Irish prime minister) Simon Harris said: "My honest to God answer is I don't think we can rule anything out at this stage.

"I do think the responsible thing for us to do here is to try and establish the facts."

Harris said it is a "horrific and tragic situation" and that the government will keep an "open mind".

Taoiseach Micheál Martin described the case as 'deeply shocking'

Speaking at the National Ploughing Championships, Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Micheál Martin said that the discovery of the remains of Daniel Aruebose was "deeply, deeply shocking and sad".

"To the best of my knowledge the child was not in care at the time [when he] went missing," he said.

"There are issues that we will examine, but we have to do it in an evidence-based and informed manner."

Martin warned about a "rush to judgement" by people in relation to Daniel's case.

He added that there are lots of "very genuine" people working in Tusla who are "flat out".

Case to be reviewed

Speaking on Wednesday, Ireland's Minister for Children Norma Foley said Daniel Aruebose's disappearance would be the subject of a "rapid" review by Tusla which is examining its contacts with the boy's family.

She said the case will also be examined by Ireland's National Review Panel, which investigates serious incidents including the deaths of children who are in care or known to the child protection system.

Tusla said it last had dealings with Daniel's family five years ago, but did not confirm why its services ceased or why no further checks or contacts appear to have been made after the child was two years old.

It also confirmed that, since 2020, no new referral or information of concern was received about the child until 29 August this year.

On that date, Tusla referred the matter to gardaí following a report from the Department of Social Protection.

The agency said the closure of the case was "appropriate".

Following the news of Daniel's disappearance, Foley said Tusla would undertake wellbeing checks on cases closed during the Covid-19 pandemic.