Ireland Kerry Babies: gardaí continue murder investigation into 1984 death of Baby John
A newborn baby boy, known as Baby John, was found washed up at White Strand near Cahersiveen, Co Kerry, on April 14th, 1984, with a postmortem finding he had been stabbed 28 times and his neck broken. A fresh investigation began in January 2018, and the baby's remains were exhumed on September 14th, 2021 for a new DNA profile. On March 23rd, 2023, a man in his 60s and a woman in his 50s were arrested on suspicion of murder at their home in south Kerry and were released without charge after interviews. In April 2024, the Garda Press Office said the murder investigation is continuing and a file will be prepared for the DPP in due course.
- Reported
- Arrested
- Charged
- In court
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- The case concerns the murder of a newborn baby boy known as Baby John, 40 years ago.
- Where
- The baby was found washed up on White Strand near Cahersiveen, Co Kerry.
- When
- A runner, Jack Griffin, discovered the body on April 14th, 1984.
- Cause
- A postmortem by the state pathologist, Prof John Harbison, found the baby had been stabbed 28 times and his neck had been broken.
- Other details
- A fresh investigation began in January 2018 after a Garda apology to Joanne Hayes.
- The couple strongly deny they are the baby's parents.
- Investigation
- The baby was exhumed on September 14th, 2021, and a new DNA profile was built from his remains.
- On March 23rd, 2023, a man in his 60s and a woman in his 50s were arrested at their home in south Kerry on suspicion of murder.
- Gardaí are confident DNA test results will stand up in any criminal proceedings, and they are understood to show the couple are the baby's parents.
- In April 2024, the Garda Press Office said the murder investigation is continuing and a file will be prepared for the DPP in due course.
- Charges
- The couple were released without charge following interviews.
12 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe article concerns the murder of a baby in Co Kerry 40 years ago. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe newborn was found washed up on a beach near Cahersiveen. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe baby's body was discovered by a runner at White Strand on April 14th, 1984. (irishtimes.com)
- causeA postmortem found the baby had been stabbed 28 times and his neck had been broken. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationA couple, a man in his 60s and a woman in his 50s, were arrested at their home in south Kerry on March 23rd, 2023. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe couple were arrested on suspicion of the offence of murder. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationBoth were later released without charge following interviews. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationDNA test results are understood to prove the couple are the baby's parents. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe baby's exhumation took place on September 14th, 2021, and a new DNA profile was built from his remains. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí say the investigation into the murder is continuing and a file will be prepared for the DPP in due course. (irishtimes.com)
- otherA fresh investigation into the case began in January 2018 after a Garda apology to Joanne Hayes. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe couple strongly deny they are the baby's parents. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 14 Apr2024Kerry Babies: gardaí retain confidence in DNA evidence but investigators face a steep challenge
Anniversary feature on the 40-year-old case. Adds that DNA results form a critical part of the file, that the couple were arrested in March 2023 and released without charge, and that the Garda Press Office says a file will go to the DPP in due course.