Gardaí call off Dalkey search for buried baby

Gardaí have called off the search for the body of a baby boy allegedly buried in the garden of a house in Dalkey, Co Dublin, almost 30 years ago.

After 10 days of searching the property, Garda forensic experts found no evidence of human remains.

But they said they were continuing their investigation into the boy's alleged death, which was first reported to them in 1995 by a woman, who goes by the pseudonym Niamh.

Niamh, who claims she was sexually abused as a child by members of her family, said the infant was one of two to whom she gave birth about 30 years ago.

She claimed the first child, called Noeleen, was murdered in 1973 and, she said, this was the same child who was found that year dumped in a lane in Dún Laoghaire.

The infant, who was buried in the Little Angels plot at Glasnevin Cemetery, Dublin, was found to have been stabbed a number of times with a knitting needle - something which Niamh claimed had been done by her mother.

Niamh alleged her second child, John, was buried in the garden in Dalkey.

She first made the allegations to gardaí in 1995, by which time she had undergone years of therapy in Britain, where she lives.

She recently came forward with fresh information, which prompted gardaí to carry out the search.

During their inquiries in 1995, gardaí were advised by experts from outside the force that the remains of a newborn baby would not have survived in the ground for many years.

However, in 2002 they sought further advice from an osteo-archaeologist, who argued that recovering an infant's bones after so long in the ground would be "difficult but not impossible".

In a statement yesterday, gardaí said "nothing of any apparent evidential value was discovered" in the search. However, "the investigation continues and information not previously related to gardaí has now been submitted. All aspects of this complicated investigation are being pursued and progressed."

Three family members, including the woman's parents and one brother, were questioned about the woman's claims in 1995. A second brother took his own life shortly before the arrests in mid-1995.

A file on the allegations was sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions 10 years ago but no prosecution was recommended.

The Dún Laoghaire coroner, Dr Kieran Geraghty, has agreed to reopen in September the inquest into the death of the baby who was found dead in the coastal town in 1973.

This followed representations in recent weeks from Niamh's solicitors.