Ireland Kerry baby murder under investigation as file prepared for DPP
A five-day-old baby, known as Baby John, was found stabbed to death on White Strand outside Cahersiveen, Co Kerry, after 8.30pm on 14 April 1984. A cold-case review began in January 2018, and the infant's remains were exhumed in September 2021 for next-generation DNA sequencing. A man in his 60s and a woman in her 50s were arrested at their home in south Kerry on 23 March 2023 on suspicion of murder and later released without charge. DNA tests matched the couple to the baby, though they deny being his parents. The investigation is continuing and a file is being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrested25 Mar
4 reports - Charged
- In court
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Baby John, a five-day-old baby, was stabbed to death in rural Kerry.
- Where
- The baby's body was found on White Strand outside Cahersiveen, Co Kerry.
- When
- The body was discovered after 8.30pm on 14 April 1984.
- Cause
- The baby had suffered 28 stab wounds, including four that pierced his heart, and a broken neck.
- Investigation
- A cold-case review began in January 2018 and the infant's remains were exhumed from Holy Cross cemetery in Cahersiveen on 14 September 2021.
- Gardaí used next-generation sequencing DNA technology to build a new DNA profile from the exhumed remains.
- A man in his 60s and a woman in her 50s were arrested at their home in south Kerry on 23 March 2023 on suspicion of murder.
- Both were released without charge, the woman from Castleisland Garda Station and the man from Listowel Garda Station approximately 12 hours later.
- DNA test results matched the couple to the baby, indicating they were his parents, though the couple deny this.
- The investigation is continuing and a file is being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.
- Other details
- The couple's solicitor says his clients deny the allegation of murder.
35 statements extracted from the articles
- whatBaby John was a five-day-old baby who was stabbed to death in rural Kerry. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe article concerns the murder of a baby in Co Kerry 40 years ago. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe baby's body was found on White Strand outside Cahersiveen. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe newborn was found washed up on a beach near Cahersiveen. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe pair were both arrested at the same approximate time in Kerry on Thursday evening. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe baby was found sometime after 8.30pm on April 14th, 1984. (irishtimes.com)
- whenGardaí arrived at the couple's home around 7.30am on March 23rd. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe baby's body was discovered by a runner at White Strand on April 14th, 1984. (irishtimes.com)
- causeThe baby had suffered 28 stab wounds, including four that pierced his heart, and a broken neck. (irishtimes.com)
- causeA postmortem found the baby had been stabbed 28 times and his neck had been broken. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe man in his 60s was released without charge from Listowel Garda Station. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationA woman was also arrested in relation to the probe and released from Castleisland Garda Station. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationA file is to be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí are investigating whether DNA could establish who Baby John's mother is. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí were allowed to question the woman until 7pm before releasing her, while they had until early Saturday to keep quizzing the man. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe arrests came almost two years after Gardaí exhumed the body of Baby John. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationDNA of the Kerry Baby parents was taken from a bin. (extra.ie)
- investigationThe couple faces rearrest. (extra.ie)
- investigationA cold-case review of the killing began in January 2018. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí used a newer DNA technology called next-generation sequencing (NGS). (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí exhumed the infant's remains from Holy Cross cemetery in Cahersiveen on September 14th, 2021. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationTests found that both suspects' samples matched the sample from the baby and that the couple were his parents. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe couple made no admissions about being the infant's parents. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationTwo people were arrested over the death of Kerry Baby John. (extra.ie)
- 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)
- otherGardaí arrested the couple on suspicion of murdering Baby John. (irishtimes.com)
- otherBoth suspects were detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe couple's solicitor says his clients deny the allegation of murder. (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.
- 1 Jan2024Exclusive: Pair Arrested Over Death Of Kerry Baby John 'In Limbo'
Headline reports that a pair was arrested over the death of Kerry Baby John and describes the case as 'in limbo'. The supplied text contains no article body, names or further details.
- 16 Apr2023Kerry Babies case: The new DNA technology that led to a couple’s arrest
Adds the March 2023 arrest of a couple in south Kerry, the next-generation DNA sequencing that led to them, the exhumation in 2021, and the reported DNA results. The solicitor says his clients deny murder.
- 1 Apr2023DNA ‘Confirms Arrested Kerry Couple Are Baby John’s Parents'
DNA evidence confirms the identity of the arrested couple as Baby John's parents.
- 26 Mar2023Revealed: DNA Of 'Kerry Baby Parents' Was Taken From Bin As Couple Face Rearrest
Reports that DNA from the Kerry Baby case was recovered from a bin and that the couple faces rearrest.
suspectsuspect - 25 Mar2023Man arrested in Kerry Babies probe walks free as file to be prepared for DPP
The man in his 60s was released without charge approximately 12 hours after the woman was released. Both were arrested on Thursday evening in Kerry. Gardaí are investigating whether DNA could establish Baby John's mother. A file is to be prepared for the DPP to decide whether either or both suspects should be charged.