Wednesday 28 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. 1065Missing person (suspected murder) · Co. Dublin

Gardaí unable to locate missing boy in Donabate, Co Dublin, who is feared dead

A boy, last seen alive around four years ago at the age of three to four, is missing and feared dead, with Gardaí believing he was killed and secretly buried in the Donabate area of north County Dublin. The boy, who would now be seven (reports differ: eight), was last known to live at The Gallery Apartments, Donabate, and the suspect is identified as Petros Tsiogas, a 63-year-old man. The boy's mother, who is from Africa, told gardaí that her ex-partner killed the child, while another account given to gardaí is that the child died in his sleep. Tusla reported the missing child to gardaí on 29 August 2025, a property in Donabate was sealed off and searched over the weekend with no result, and on 1 September gardaí took control of an area of open ground in Donabate for a search expected to last several days. No arrests have been made and the investigation, led from an incident room at Swords Garda Station with homicide inquiry resources committed, is ongoing.

  1. Reported2 Sep
    5 reports
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced2 Sep
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • A boy, last seen alive around four years ago at age three to four, is missing and feared dead, with Gardaí believing he was killed and secretly buried in the Donabate area.
  • The mother told gardaí her ex-partner killed the child, while associates of the ex-partner raised the possibility the child died of natural causes.
Where
The boy was last known to live at The Gallery Apartments, Donabate, Co Dublin.
When
  • Tusla reported the missing child to gardaí on 29 August 2025, and the mother was interviewed on Sunday 31 August.
  • On 1 September 2025, gardaí took control of an area of open ground in Donabate for a search expected to last several days.
Investigation
  • A property in Donabate was sealed off and searched over the weekend but yielded nothing, and no arrests have been made.
  • The investigation is led by a Senior Investigating Officer from an incident room at Swords Garda Station, with homicide inquiry resources committed.
Other details
  • The boy's mother is from Africa and has remained in the north Dublin area, while the father is Irish-born and has moved to another country.
  • The suspect is identified as Petros Tsiogas, a 63-year-old man.
  • The boy would now be seven years old, though some reports say eight.
  • Staff became suspicious when the mother could not provide proof the boy had been attending school or received medical treatment.
In court
Petros Tsiogas was sentenced at Dublin District Court to a four-month sentence suspended for two years, a €500 fine, and €750 in prosecution costs on 23 charges of unregistered gas work carried out between February 2023 and December 2024.
74 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe boy was three to four years old when last seen and would now be aged seven. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatTwo possibilities are being explored: the child was unlawfully killed or died of natural causes. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe boy has been missing for several years and would be seven years old now. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatGardaí believe the boy is missing and presumed dead. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatA woman told Gardaí that her ex-partner killed the child. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatThe boy was aged around three and a half when last seen. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe boy would be aged around eight now. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatGardaí believe the child is dead and was secretly buried. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe mother told gardaí the child was killed by her ex-partner. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatAnother scenario given to gardaí is that the child died in his sleep. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe father is Irish-born but moved to another country after the boy was last seen alive. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe mother is from Africa and has remained living in the north Dublin area. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatStaff became suspicious when the mother could not provide proof the boy had been attending school or received treatment from a doctor. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatAssociates of the ex-partner raised the possibility of the boy dying of natural causes. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe boy has not been seen for several years and is feared dead (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe boy would be seven years old now (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe boy was three to four years old when last seen (irishtimes.com)
  • whatPetros Tsiogas was prosecuted by the CRU on 23 charges for unregistered gas work (irishtimes.com)
  • whatTsiogas carried out work on nine houses in Dublin and Kildare while suspended (irishtimes.com)
  • whatTsiogas had replaced a boiler the day before the call (irishtimes.com)
  • whatA Gas Networks Ireland first responder found a leak in a pipe (irishtimes.com)
  • whatTsiogas still had a book of 50 gas certificates (irishtimes.com)
  • whatTsiogas registered with the gas scheme in 2009 (irishtimes.com)
  • whatTsiogas was suspended four years before the offences and later reinstated under supervision (irishtimes.com)
  • whatTsiogas was terminated after failing to detect a gas leak on another property (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe boy is last known to have lived at the Gallery apartments, Donabate, Co Dublin. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe boy was last known to live in The Gallery Apartments, Donabate. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whereThe remains were secretly buried in the Donabate area of north County Dublin. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe boy was last known to reside at The Gallery Apartments, Donabate, Co Dublin. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereTsiogas lives in Beechfield Meadows, Clonee, Dublin 15 (irishtimes.com)
  • whenOn Monday night, investigating gardaí took control of an area of open ground in Donabate for a search in the coming days. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenTusla raised the alarm with gardaí last Friday, and a missing persons inquiry was launched immediately. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenTusla reported the missing child to Gardaí on Friday, 29 August 2025. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whenThe boy was last seen alive around four years ago. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe mother was interviewed by gardaí on Sunday. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe boy was last seen alive around four years ago when he was aged around three and a half. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenTusla raised the alarm with gardaí on the Friday before the 2 September press conference (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe works were carried out between February 2023 and December 2024 (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe CRU safety officer received a call on 28 November 2024 about gas not working at the Celbridge house (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationGardaí are to search an area of open land in north Dublin as part of the investigation. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationResources of a homicide inquiry have been committed to the case. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationA property in north Co Dublin was sealed off over the weekend. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationAn incident room has been set up at Swords Garda station. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationGardaí have taken control of an area of open ground in Donabate for a search over the coming days. (dublinlive.ie)
  • investigationThe investigation is led by a Senior Investigating Officer based at Swords Garda Station. (dublinlive.ie)
  • investigationNo arrests have been made and the investigation is ongoing. (dublinlive.ie, irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGardaí have been unable to locate the boy, identify his whereabouts, or find evidence he is alive. (dublinlive.ie)
  • investigationGardaí are set to begin a dig operation to find the body of the missing boy. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationA property in Donabate was sealed off and searched by detectives. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGardaí left the property late on Sunday evening after the search yielded nothing. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe investigation started on Friday after an urgent referral from Tusla. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationSocial welfare workers contacted Tusla, who then got in touch with gardaí. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationOfficers sealed off an area in Donabate over the weekend and carried out a search but found nothing. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe investigation started on Friday after gardai received an urgent referral from Tusla. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationSocial welfare workers contacted Tusla who then got in touch with gardai. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe boy's mother was interviewed on Sunday and a property was sealed off and searched, yielding nothing. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationOn Monday, gardai took control of an area of open ground in Donabate to be the subject of a search in the coming days. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGardaí took control of an area of open ground in Donabate for a search expected to last a number of days (irishtimes.com)
  • courtJudge Paul Kelly imposed a four-month sentence suspended for two years at Dublin District Court (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceTsiogas must not perform gas installations unless registered (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceTsiogas was fined €500 (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceTsiogas was ordered to pay €750 in prosecution costs (irishtimes.com)
  • otherA woman interviewed by gardaí claimed the boy had been killed by another person. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe case is not linked in any way to that of Kyran Durnin. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherMinister for Children Norma Foley said she had been briefed and was deeply concerned about the missing child. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe boy's father is Irish born but moved to another country. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe boy's mother is from Africa and has been living in the Dublin area. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe mother alleged the boy was killed by her ex-partner. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe case has echoes of the Kyran Durnin case in Drogheda, Co Louth. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherNo proof the boy was alive was provided and there was no record of him attending school (irishtimes.com)
  • otherBoth parents are Irish citizens, one is abroad and one remains in Ireland (irishtimes.com)
  • otherGarda Commissioner Justin Kelly said investigating gardaí believe the boy is deceased (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe CRU official believed this was the most significant number of unauthorised gas work offences before the courts (irishtimes.com)
  • otherTsiogas has ceased working and has no earnings (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 2 Sep2025
    Sentencedirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Suspended gas installer left house like ‘ticking time bomb’, court hears

    Reports the sentencing of Petros Tsiogas for 23 charges of unregistered gas work, including details of the 'ticking time bomb' incident in Celbridge, his history with the gas registration scheme, and the CRU prosecution.

    convicted, Petros Tsiogas, 63, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Petros Tsiogas
  2. 2 Sep2025
    Reportedirishtimes.com, first report
    Gardaí unable to locate missing boy in Dublin who is feared dead, says Commissioner

    First report on the case; Garda Commissioner confirms the boy is feared dead, a homicide inquiry has been committed, searches are under way, and a woman has claimed the boy was killed by another person.

    victim, 7, male
  3. 2 Sep2025
    Reportedirishmirror.ie, follow-up
    A child feared killed and secretly buried in Dublin: What we know so far

    Initial report on the suspected murder of a young boy in Donabate. Gardaí received an urgent referral from Tusla after the mother attempted to claim child benefit. A property search yielded nothing, and a dig operation is planned in an area of open ground. No arrests have been made.

    victim, malesuspect, male
  4. 2 Sep2025
    Reportedirishmirror.ie, follow-up
    Gardai set to begin dig operation for body of missing child presumed dead

    Adds details on the upcoming dig operation, conflicting accounts from the mother and the ex-partner's associates, the father being Irish-born and having moved abroad, the mother being from Africa, the investigation being triggered by a child benefit claim, and a property search in Donabate yielding nothing.

    victim, 8, malesuspect, male, irish (judged from name)
  5. 2 Sep2025
    Reporteddublinlive.ie, follow-up
    Gardai to search 'open ground' for missing boy presumed dead

    Gardaí have taken control of open ground in Donabate for a search; a woman told Gardaí her ex-partner killed the child; Tusla reported the missing child on 29 August 2025; no arrests have been made.

    victim, 7, malesuspect, male
  6. 2 Sep2025
    Reportedirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Gardaí understood to have spoken to parents of missing boy feared dead as land search begins

    First detailed report of the missing Donabate boy case, with a land search beginning, homicide inquiry resources committed, and a woman's claim that the boy was killed by another person under investigation.

    victim, 7, male