Thursday 29 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 7415Disappearance (possible murder) · Co. Dublin · 23 Oct 1986

Ex-garda calls for Philip Cairns case to be upgraded to murder

Philip Cairns, a 13-year-old boy, disappeared on the afternoon of 23 October 1986 as he walked from his home in Ballyroan, South Dublin. Eamon Cooke, a radio DJ who died in 2016, is named as the main suspect, and a woman told gardaí she saw him hit Philip with an implement. Former Detective Sergeant Tom Doyle, who led the investigation, has called for the case to be upgraded to a murder investigation, as reported on 8 October 2023 ahead of the 37th anniversary of the disappearance. No arrests or charges are reported.

  1. Reported
  2. Arrested
  3. Charged
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Philip Cairns, a 13-year-old boy, disappeared as he walked home from school.
Where
Philip Cairns disappeared as he walked from his home in Ballyroan, South Dublin.
When
Philip Cairns disappeared on the afternoon of 23 October 1986.
Cause
A woman told gardaí she saw Eamon Cooke hit Philip Cairns with an implement.
Other details
  • Eamon Cooke, a radio DJ, is named as the main suspect and died in 2016.
  • Doyle says there is no evidence to suggest Philip Cairns is still alive.
  • The case was reported on 8 October 2023 ahead of the 37th anniversary of the disappearance.
Investigation
  • Former Detective Sergeant Tom Doyle, who headed the investigation from 1998 to 2016, says he has suggested upgrading the case to a murder investigation and still believes it should be.
  • Doyle says a murder investigation could bring more resources to the investigation team.
  • Anyone with information is asked to contact the Garda Confidential Line.
Charges
No arrests or charges are reported in the case.
9 statements extracted from the articles
  • wherePhilip Cairns disappeared as he walked from his home in Ballyroan, South Dublin. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whenPhilip Cairns disappeared on the afternoon of 23 October 1986. (dublinlive.ie)
  • causeA woman told gardaí she saw Eamon Cooke hit Philip Cairns with an implement. (dublinlive.ie)
  • investigationTom Doyle says he has suggested upgrading the case to a murder investigation and still believes it should be. (dublinlive.ie)
  • investigationDoyle says upgrading the case could bring more resources to the investigation team. (dublinlive.ie)
  • investigationAnyone with information is asked to contact the Garda Confidential Line. (dublinlive.ie)
  • otherDoyle says there is nothing to suggest Philip Cairns is still alive. (dublinlive.ie)
  • otherCooke, a radio DJ, died in 2016. (dublinlive.ie)
  • otherThe article was published ahead of the 37th anniversary of the disappearance. (dublinlive.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 8 Oct2023
    Otherdublinlive.ie, first report
    Ex-garda calls for missing Philip Cairns' case to be upgraded to murder

    Cold-case report on a disappearance from 1986. A former senior investigator calls for the case to be upgraded to murder and names Eamon Cooke as the main suspect. No arrests or charges are reported.

    victim, Philip Cairns, 13, male, irish (judged from name)Philip Cairnssuspect, Eamon Cooke, male, named, irish (judged from name)Eamon Cooke