Kyran Durnin mystery deepens as police fear missing boy may have been dead for two years

An eight-year-old boy who was in August may have died two years ago, police fear, as the investigation into his disappearance goes on.

was reported missing this summer from his home in County Louth, Ireland, along with his mum Dayla. It's now been claimed that the 24-year-old has been located safe and well in the UK - but her son still has not been found.

Police yesterday announced they had upgraded the official investigation to a murder probe, with Kyran presumed dead. An Garda Síochána said in a statement that the organisation was no longer seeking information that could help trace the whereabouts of the mum and son duo, and instead seeking leads in connection with their disappearance. Now, insiders have claimed that Dayla has been found alive in the UK, and that it is suspected Kyran may have died months before his disappearance was officially noted.

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Anonymous sources told the Irish Times that one of the lines of enquiry currently being considered is that Kyran may have died "well before" he was reported missing. The sources added that efforts may have been made to convince Irish authorities, including the Republic's child and family agency Tusla, that he was still alive.

The insiders also claimed that sources believed the investigation was complex with "many strands", and that, while some individuals known to the eight-year-old have been co-operating with the investigations, others have not. One said: “There are a lot of moving parts which will take time to work through."

Suspicions that the boy are also said to have mounted over the last month, leaving detectives "all but certain" the child was killed, but a possible accidental death is also being considered. No arrests have been made, and police are yet to recover any remains in relation to the case.

One senior source told the Mail that "Narrowing down the exact last moment gardaí have evidence of Kyran being alive is central to this investigation. There are several other strands to this investigation which are being worked on as well".

An Garda Síochána did not comment on the claims when approached by the . The service said in its update announcing the investigation had been upgraded - a rare move for a case - that it is still seeking information in connection with the disappearance of Kyran, but made no mention of Dayla, tracing efforts for whom have been stood down.

The service said: "Gardaí are appealing to anyone who has any information in connection with the disappearance of Kyran to contact Drogheda Garda Station on 041 987 4200 , the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda Station. Any information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, will be welcomed by the investigation team. This information will be treated in the strictest confidence."