Ireland Case No. 3399Murder · Co. Kerry · 14 Apr 1984
File submitted to DPP in Kerry baby murder case
A five-day-old baby boy was stabbed 28 times and dumped on a beach at White Strand, Caherciveen, Co Kerry on 14 April 1984. The case, known as the Kerry Babies scandal, was reopened in 2018 and the infant's remains were exhumed in 2021 for DNA testing. In March 2023, a man in his 60s and a woman in her 50s from Co Kerry were arrested on suspicion of murder and released without charge after providing DNA samples. In April 2026, gardai submitted the investigation file to the Director of Public Prosecutions to decide whether to bring charges.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrested23 Mar
5 reports - Charged
- In court
- Verdict
- Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- A male infant, known as Baby John, was found with 28 stab wounds and a broken neck at White Strand, Caherciveen, Co Kerry on 14 April 1984.
- When
- The infant was found on 14 April 1984; reports of his age at death differ, with most stating five days old while the State pathologist said he had lived for three days.
- Cause
- The infant had been stabbed 28 times and suffered severe injuries to his neck and spine.
- Where
- The body was found on the rocks at White Strand near Cahersiveen, Co Kerry, and was taken to the morgue at University Hospital Kerry, Tralee.
- Investigation
- An extensive investigation has been ongoing since 2018 by the Kerry Division supported by the Garda Serious Crime Review Team, with hundreds of people interviewed and over 560 lines of enquiry initiated.
- In 2021, the remains of Baby John were exhumed from Holy Cross Cemetery in Cahersiveen and a DNA profile was raised.
- In March 2023, a man in his 60s and a woman in her 50s from Co Kerry were arrested on suspicion of murder and detained at Castleisland and Listowel Garda stations.
- Both suspects were released without charge in late March 2023 and had provided DNA samples voluntarily during their detention.
- In court
- The investigation file was submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions in April 2026 to decide whether to bring charges.
- Other details
- In 1984, Joanne Hayes was wrongly accused of being the mother of Baby John; all charges were dropped and in 2020 she received a formal state apology and €2.5 million in compensation.
119 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe man is in his 60s. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe woman is in her 50s. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe baby was murdered just five days after he was born. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatA man in his 60s and a woman in her 50s were arrested on suspicion of murder (corkbeo.ie)
- whatThe baby was murdered five days after birth (corkbeo.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe woman in her 50s was released without charge from Castleisland Garda Station at around 7.30pm on Friday 24 March 2023. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe woman was quizzed for 24 hours on suspicion of murdering Baby John. (irishmirror.ie, corkbeo.ie)
- whatA man in his 60s remains under detention at a Garda station in the south of the country. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatBaby John was a five-day-old baby who was stabbed to death in rural Co Kerry before being dumped on a beach in Caherciveen in April 1984. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatA man in his 60s and a woman in her 50s were arrested on Thursday night on suspicion of murder. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe man in his 60s was released without charge in the early hours of Saturday 26 March 2023 (corkbeo.ie)
- whatThe woman in her 50s was released from Castleisland Garda Station at around 7.30pm on Friday (corkbeo.ie)
- whatThe couple was released without charge (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe first the couple heard about the case was a knock on the door to find gardaí with a warrant for their arrest (irishtimes.com)
- whatA man in his 60s was released without charge in the early hours of Saturday morning (irishmirror.ie)
- whatA woman in her 50s was also released without charge (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe newborn male infant was found with multiple injuries at White Strand, Cahirciveen, Co Kerry on April 14, 1984 (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe infant had been stabbed 28 times (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe arrested pair are a man in his 60s and a woman in her 50s. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatBaby John was a five-day-old boy whose body had 28 stab wounds when found. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe man is in his 60s and the woman is in her 50s. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe then State pathologist Dr John Harbison said the baby had lived for three days before being killed and his body dumped into the sea. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe baby was found with 28 stab wounds and a broken neck. (irishtimes.com)
- whatA couple were arrested on suspicion of the murder of Baby John almost 40 years ago. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe suspects are a man in his 60s and a woman in her 50s from Co Kerry. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatJoanne Hayes gave birth to a baby boy, Shane, on April 13, 1984, who died of natural causes. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe baby had been stabbed 28 times and suffered severe injuries to his neck and spine. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatShane died of natural causes and was buried on the farmland. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe body was found on the rocks at White Strand near Cahersiveen in April 1984. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe pair were taken to Castleisland Garda station (corkbeo.ie)
- whereThe arrests were made in the Munster region (corkbeo.ie)
- whereThe remains were taken to the morgue at University Hospital Kerry, Tralee (corkbeo.ie)
- whereThe woman was taken to Castleisland Garda Station for questioning. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe man was taken to Listowel Garda Station for questioning. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe baby was found dead on a beach in Cahersiveen, Co Kerry, in April 1984 (irishtimes.com)
- whereThey were held in separate garda stations in Listowel and Castleisland (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe arrests were carried out in south Kerry. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe infant was found on White Strand near Cahersiveen in April 1984. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe couple was detained at garda stations in Listowel and Castleisland under section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe body of a male infant was found at White Strand, Caherciveen, on 14 April 1984. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereJoanne Hayes was living in Abbeydorney, around 80 kms away, at the time of the 1984 investigation. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenBaby John was murdered in early 1984. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenBoth suspects were arrested at the same approximate time in Kerry on Thursday evening, 23 March 2023. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe woman was released from custody shortly before 7.30pm on Friday. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe man was released early on Saturday morning. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe man and woman were arrested on Thursday in connection with the case (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe couple was arrested on the Thursday before 28 March 2023. (irishtimes.com)
- whenJoanne Hayes gave birth to a baby boy named Shane on 13 April 1984 on the family farm. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationOfficers mounted a series of searches in rural Kerry. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationA man and woman were arrested on suspicion of murder. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe remains were taken to the morgue at University Hospital Kerry, Tralee, for examination. (irishmirror.ie, corkbeo.ie)
- investigationThe suspects were being held at Castleisland Garda Station. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe suspects can be quizzed for up to 24 hours. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe initial 1984 investigation saw gardai drawing up a list of pregnant women who had either left the county or had not appeared to have a new-born infant. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardai focused on Joanne Hayes, who was at the time living in Abbeydorney, around 90 kms away. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardai have always believed the answer to the murder lay in the area around Cahersiveen. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationAn extensive investigation has been ongoing since 2018 by the Kerry Division supported by the Garda Serious Crime Review Team (corkbeo.ie)
- investigationHundreds of people have been interviewed and over 560 lines of enquiry have been initiated (corkbeo.ie)
- investigationSuperintendent Flor Murphy has been leading the investigation (corkbeo.ie)
- investigationGardai are investigating whether DNA could establish who Baby John's mother is. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationDetectives are expected to prepare a file for the Director of Public Prosecutions. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationAn extensive investigation has been ongoing since 2018, with hundreds of people interviewed and over 560 lines of enquiry initiated. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationBoth were detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, which allows up to 24 hours. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThey were identified by gardaí after a positive match with a DNA sample as part of the Cold Case Review launched in 2018. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí said a file would be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationA fresh investigation was opened at the beginning of 2018 following a Garda apology to Joanne Hayes. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationA file will be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions (corkbeo.ie, irishtimes.com)
- investigationAn extensive investigation has been ongoing since 2018 by Gardaí in the Kerry Division supported by the Garda Serious Crime Review Team (corkbeo.ie)
- investigationThe clients were never questioned during the extensive Garda investigation (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe couple had never encountered gardaí making door-to-door enquiries in south Kerry (irishtimes.com)
- investigationIn launching the review in 2018, gardaí expressed the hope that people would come to them with information (irishtimes.com)
- investigationA file is to be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe breakthrough came almost two years after gardai exhumed the body of five-day-old Baby John (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationHundreds of people have been interviewed and more than 560 lines of inquiry have been initiated (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationFurther DNA testing is being carried out (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe couple were released from Castleisland Garda station late on Thursday and early on Friday. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationA file is being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions to decide if anyone should be charged. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationIn 2018, the Garda Serious Crime Review Team took a fresh look at the case. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationIn 2021, the remains of Baby John were exhumed from a cemetery in Cahersiveen and a DNA profile was raised. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe arrested pair themselves provided a DNA sample voluntarily to gardai after their arrest. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe investigation into the death of Baby John is continuing and a file will be prepared for the DPP. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationA serious case review was launched in 2018 following concerns about the original investigation. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe couple was released without charge pending further investigations and analysis of evidence including DNA samples. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe suspects were released without charge with a file being prepared for the DPP. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationDNA samples were given voluntarily by both suspects during their detention. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe initial garda investigation focused on Joanne Hayes, who was living in Abbeydorney, North Co Kerry, around 80km away. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationJoanne Hayes was arrested and wrongly accused of being the mother of Baby John. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationIn 2021, the Garda Serious Crime Review team exhumed Baby John's remains for DNA testing. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationIn March 2023, gardai arrested a man and woman on suspicion of the murder. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe man in his 60s and the woman in her 50s were both released without charge. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationIn 2021, gardai exhumed the remains of Baby John from Holy Cross Cemetery in Cahersiveen. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationAn investigation file has been submitted to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe investigation was carried out by Kerry Division supported by the Garda Serious Crime Review Team. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThey are detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984 (corkbeo.ie)
- otherThe Garda probe caused a public outcry and the creation of a special tribunal of inquiry. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherJoanne Hayes was arrested by the garda murder squad and wrongly accused of being the mother of Baby John. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherAll charges against Joanne Hayes were dropped later that year. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherIn 2020 Joanne Hayes received a formal apology from the State and a settlement of €2.5 million. (irishmirror.ie, corkbeo.ie)
- otherJoanne Hayes gave birth to a baby boy named Shane on April 13, 1984, on the family farm. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe baby boy died of natural causes and was buried on the farmland. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherJoanne Hayes was wrongly accused of being the mother of Baby John in 1984 and all charges were dropped (corkbeo.ie)
- otherJoanne Hayes gave birth to a baby boy named Shane on 13 April 1984 who died of natural causes (corkbeo.ie)
- otherThe woman declined the chance to have her detention suspended for eight hours at midnight on Friday, while the man accepted. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe man is likely to be released without charge by around 11am on Saturday. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherBoth suspects were offered a suspension of detention for eight hours at midnight on Friday; the man accepted and the woman declined (corkbeo.ie)
- otherSuperintendent Flor McCarthy is leading the Garda probe (corkbeo.ie)
- otherJoanne Hayes gave birth to a baby boy named Sane Shane on 13 April 1984 who died of natural causes (corkbeo.ie)
- otherJoanne Hayes was a native of Abbeydorney in Co Kerry (irishtimes.com)
- otherJoanne Hayes was subjected to five days of cross-examination at the Kerry Babies Tribunal in 1985 (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe man and woman are understood to be a couple with adult children (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe case resulted in a state apology and compensation for Joanne Hayes (irishmirror.ie)
- otherJoanne Hayes was wrongly accused of being the mother of Baby John and all charges were dropped. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherJoanne Hayes gave birth to a baby boy named Shane on April 13, 1984, who died of natural causes. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThere is no consideration at this stage for the couple taking a civil case against gardai. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherA solicitor is questioning the validity of arrests made in the Baby John case. (extra.ie)
- otherIt could take six months to a year before the DPP makes a decision on charges. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherIn 2020, Joanne Hayes received a formal apology from the State and €2.5 million in compensation. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe garda case has remained open for over 40 years. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherAll charges against Joanne Hayes were dropped later in 1984. (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 5 Apr2026Gardaí submit file to DPP after 'extensive' investigation into Kerry babies case
Reports that Gardaí have submitted the investigation file to the DPP, and provides background on the 2023 arrests, the 2021 exhumation, the 2018 reopening by the Serious Crime Review Team, and the history of the Kerry babies scandal including the wrongful arrest of Joanne Hayes.
victim, 0, malesuspect, 60s, malesuspect, 50s, femalesuspect, Joanne Hayes, female, named, irish (judged from name)Joanne Hayes - 2 Apr2023Kerry Baby murder suspects 'traumatised' after arrests and 'won't return home'
Solicitor Padraig O'Connell says the two suspects are 'totally traumatised' and have chosen not to return to their home; DNA samples were given voluntarily during detention; DPP decision could take six months to a year.
suspect, 60s, malesuspect, 50s, female - 28 Mar2023Garda Commissioner stands by decision to arrest couple in ‘Kerry babies’ murder inquiry
Commissioner publicly defends the arrests and the manner of the interviews; couple released without charge pending DNA analysis; solicitor denies any involvement and calls the evidence insufficient.
- 27 Mar2023Solicitor Questions Validity Of Baby John Arrests
A solicitor has raised questions about the validity of the arrests made in the Baby John murder case.
victim, Baby JohnBaby John - 27 Mar2023Solicitor for couple arrested in Kerry Babies probe insists 'they're innocent'
Solicitor Padraig O'Connell stated the couple are 'totally innocent' and 'there is no case to meet.' The couple were released without charge from Castleisland Garda station late Thursday/early Friday. The solicitor said the couple provided DNA samples voluntarily after their arrest and is awaiting results. He said the couple were 'shell-shocked' and have never been in a Garda station before. No civil case against gardai is being considered at this stage.
- 25 Mar2023Man and woman arrested over Kerry Babies case 'must be presumed innocent'
Reports the release without charge of the man in his 60s and woman in her 50s, their solicitor's comments on presumption of innocence, and confirmation that a file will be prepared for the DPP.
suspect, 60s, malesuspect, 50s, female - 25 Mar2023Kerry babies: ‘Knock on the door’ was when arrested couple first heard of Garda interest, says solicitor
Provides the solicitor's account of how the couple first learned of the Garda interest (a knock on the door with a warrant), confirms they were never questioned during the investigation, and notes their release without charge with a file to be prepared for the DPP. Also includes commentary from feminist campaigner Ailbhe Smyth on 1980s Ireland and references to the wrongful arrest of Joanne Hayes in 1984.
- 25 Mar2023Kerry Babies arrests latest as Gardai confirm file to be forwarded to DPP
Reports the release of both suspects without charge (man in his 60s released early Saturday 26 March; woman in her 50s released from Castleisland Garda Station at 7.30pm Friday) and confirms a file will be prepared for the DPP. Provides details on the detention periods and the ongoing investigation since 2018.
- 25 Mar2023‘Kerry babies’ case: Man and woman released without charge after arrest over 1984 killing
Reports the release without charge of the man and woman arrested on 22 March 2023, their solicitor's statement that they protested their innocence, and that a file will be prepared for the DPP.
- 24 Mar2023Woman arrested in Kerry Babies probe free after quizzed on suspicion of murder
Reports the woman's release without charge at 7.30pm on 24 March 2023, the man's continued detention, the custody timing details, and the expectation that a file will be prepared for the DPP. Confirms gardai are investigating whether DNA could establish Baby John's mother.
- 24 Mar2023Search for answers on Kerry Babies murder will focus on small area
Reports the arrest of a man in his 60s and a woman in her 50s on 23 March 2023, their detention at Castleisland Garda station, details of the ongoing investigation since 2018 including over 560 lines of enquiry, and background on the 1984 case including the wrongful accusation of Joanne Hayes.
victim, Baby John, 5 days old, maleBaby Johnsuspect, 60s, malesuspect, 50s, femalesuspect, Joanne Hayes, female, named at arrest, irish (judged from name)Joanne Hayes - 23 Mar2023Man and woman arrested in Kerry Babies murder probe
Reports the arrest of a man in his 60s and a woman in her 50s on suspicion of murder following a series of searches in rural Kerry. Provides background on the 1984 investigation, the wrongful accusation of Joanne Hayes, and the 2020 state apology and €2.5 million settlement to her.
victim, Baby John, 0, maleBaby Johnsuspect, 60s, malesuspect, 50s, femalesuspect, Joanne Hayes, female, named at arrest, irish (judged from name)Joanne Hayes