Kerry Babies: Two arrested on suspicion of murder remain in custody

Almost 39 years after ‘Baby John’ was first found on the White Strand beach in Cahersiveen, Kerry on April 14, 1984 there has been a significant development in the cold case.

On Thursday night, March 24 Gardaí arrested two people, a male in his 60s and a female in her 50s, in relation to the discovery of the body of a male infant in Kerry.

They were arrested in the Munster region on suspicion of the offence of murder and are currently detained at Garda Stations in the south of the country under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984.

"The arrests are a significant development in this investigation in an effort to establish the truth surrounding the death of Baby John in 1984 and deliver justice for Baby John. I am again appealing to the public for any information in relation to the death of Baby John in 1984,” said Superintendent Flor Murphy last night.

He urged people to come forward to help with investigation.

“Anyone who comes forward will be treated with sensitivity and compassion,” said Superintendent Flor Murphy, who has been leading the investigation.

An extensive investigation has been ongoing since January 2018 into this incident by Gardaí in the Kerry Division supported by the Garda Serious Crime Review Team. Hundreds of people have been interviewed and over 560 lines of enquiry have been initiated.

At the time he said Gardaí want to find out happened Baby John. His post-mortem had shown at the time that he suffered extensive stab wounds.

In September 2021 the baby was exhumed for a higher quality DNA sample that was not available back in 1984, This is believed to have played a key part in the investigation and the latest development in the case.

In the first year of the Cold Case, a team of nine gardaí, all working full-time interviewed hundreds and took fresh DNA samples from a number of people running into “double digits”.  These samples were then analysed.

Two years after the Cold Case was launched there has now been a break-through and the two people arrested remain in stations in Munster.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Killarney Garda Station (064) 667 1160 the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111 or any Garda Station.