Friday 30 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. 14478Unspecified (discovery of human remains) · Co. Dublin · 21 Feb 2025

Human hand found in yard of Darndale primary school

A human hand was found on the afternoon of 21 February 2025 in the schoolyard of Our Lady Immaculate school in Darndale, Dublin 17, beside a walkway. Gardaí believe it belonged to a young male who was injured when a gas canister exploded, and the sources do not name him. Gardaí established a crime scene and examined CCTV footage from the school, which is on midterm break. Sources say the hand was probably brought to the spot by a bird and was not thought to be dumped maliciously. The latest development is that the State Pathologist has been notified and the remains will be removed for examination and DNA analysis to help confirm identity.

  1. Reported21 Feb
  2. Arrested
  3. Charged
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
A human hand was found in the grounds of Our Lady Immaculate school in Darndale, Dublin 17.
Where
The hand was found in the schoolyard next to a walkway.
When
The discovery was made on the afternoon of 21 February 2025.
Cause
Sources say the hand was probably brought to the location by a bird and was not thought to be dumped maliciously.
Other details
Gardaí believe the hand belonged to a young male who was injured when a gas canister exploded.
Investigation
  • Gardaí were alerted to partial human remains at a premises in Darndale, and a crime scene has been established.
  • Gardaí have examined CCTV footage, and the school is on midterm break.
  • A scene is being held, searches of the immediate vicinity are expected, and the State Pathologist has been notified.
  • The remains will be removed for examination and DNA analysis to help confirm identity.
11 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA human hand was discovered in the grounds of a school in Dublin. (thejournal.ie)
  • whereThe discovery was made at Our Lady Immaculate school in Darndale. (thejournal.ie)
  • whereThe find was in the schoolyard next to a walkway. (thejournal.ie)
  • whenThe discovery was made on the afternoon of 21 February 2025. (thejournal.ie)
  • causeSources say the hand was probably brought to the location by a bird rather than dumped there maliciously. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationThe school is on midterm break and gardaí have already examined CCTV footage. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationGardaí have established a crime scene and searches of the immediate vicinity are expected. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationGardaí were alerted to the discovery of partial human remains at a premises in Darndale, Dublin 17. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationA scene is being held and the State Pathologist has been notified. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationThe remains will be removed for examination and DNA analysis to help confirm identity. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherGardaí believe the hand belonged to a young male who was injured when a gas canister exploded. (thejournal.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 21 Feb2025
    Reportedthejournal.ie, first report
    Discovery of human hand in yard of Dublin primary school not thought to be malicious

    First report of the discovery. Adds that gardaí believe the hand belonged to a young male injured in a gas canister explosion, that a crime scene has been established, and that CCTV has been examined.

    victim, male