Police search area in case of boy 'presumed dead' in Ireland

Police in Dublin are preparing to search an area of open ground as they investigate the disappearance of a seven-year-old boy not seen in three years - and who was never reported missing.

The Gardai, the Irish police service, say that the missing child is "presumed dead". The boy, who officers have not named, was last known to have resided at The Gallery Apartments in Donabate, County Dublin.

It is believed there has been no confirmed sighting of the child since he was three or four years old. The Irish child and family agency Tusla raised concerns and alerted the police last Friday.

The police say, despite their enquiries, they have been unable to locate the boy or find any evidence that he is still alive. It's understood that they have spoken to members of the boy's family who are abroad.

A search was carried out at the apartment complex over the weekend, and forensic teams are now starting a search of an area of open ground elsewhere in Donabate. Tusla said that "we continue to work closely with the Garda and, in line with normal practice, all relevant information relating to this family has been shared".

The agency raised the alarm a year to the day since it reported the case of missing schoolboy Kryan Durnin to police. Read more from Sky News:Reform took advantage of the PM's holidayChance to see the Northern Lights tonight Kyran, from County Louth, was six years old when he was last seen in 2022, and officers believe he may have died up to three years ago.

Police say they have carried out 570 separate investigative actions in relation to Kyran's disappearance and suspected murder, and have scoured 29,500 hours of CCTV footage. Two people have been arrested as part of the investigation, but no charges have yet been filed.

Although there is no suggestion that the two cases are connected, the apparent similarities in circumstances, with delays in reporting children as missing, have shocked many in Ireland. Ireland's Minister for Children, Norma Foley, said that she is "deeply concerned" about the latest incident..