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. 0363Murder · Co. Dublin

Renewed appeal for information in Daniel Aruebose murder investigation one year on

Daniel Aruebose, a boy born in December 2017 who would now be eight, died in 2021 and was found buried in an unmarked grave in waste ground outside Donabate, north county Dublin, in September 2025. Tusla raised concerns with An Garda Síochána on 29 August 2025, and DNA analysis confirmed the remains as Daniel's. A woman in her 20s was arrested on suspicion of murder in December 2025 and a man in his 20s in February 2026, both released without charge, while Yevgen McKeeffe, 46, from Ukraine, was arrested at Dublin Airport on 28 May 2026 and charged with four offences including corruption and Official Secrets Act counts. The DPP directed his trial to the Special Criminal Court and he has been remanded in custody since 30 May, with a next appearance set for 25 September at Cloverhill District Court. As the investigation reached one year on 28 August 2026, Gardaí issued a renewed appeal for information from residents of The Gallery Apartments in Donabate.

  1. Reported28 Aug
    2 reports
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court28 Aug
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Daniel Aruebose, a boy born 12 December 2017, died in 2021 and was found buried in an unmarked grave in waste ground outside Donabate in September 2025.
Where
Daniel lived in The Gallery Apartments in Donabate, north county Dublin.
When
Tusla raised concerns about Daniel with An Garda Síochána on 29 August 2025, and his remains were discovered on open ground in Donabate on 17 September 2025.
Investigation
  • DNA analysis confirmed the remains as Daniel Aruebose's, and a post-mortem examination was carried out at Dublin City Mortuary on 19 September 2025.
  • A woman in her 20s was arrested on suspicion of murder on 22 December 2025 and released without charge, and a man in his 20s was arrested on 10 February 2026 and released without charge.
  • Yevgen McKeeffe, 46, from Ukraine, was arrested in the departures area at Dublin Airport on 28 May 2026 while attempting to leave the country carrying €5,650 and a one-way ticket.
  • The investigation, led by Swords Garda Station, has involved over 800 investigative actions, over 400 statements, and collaboration with law enforcement in the US, Brazil, France, UK, Australia, Portugal, and the UAE.
Charges
The SDU charged McKeeffe with four offences between 11 July 2025 and 28 May 2026, including a corruption count, a Data Protection Act breach, and two Official Secrets Act counts.
In court
The DPP directed the case to proceed on indictment in the Special Criminal Court, and McKeeffe has been remanded in custody since 30 May 2026 with a next appearance at Cloverhill District Court on 25 September.
Other details
As the investigation reached one year on 28 August 2026, Gardaí issued a renewed appeal for information from anyone who lived in The Gallery Apartments between July 2019 and the present.
49 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatHe was attempting to leave the country carrying €5,650 and a one-way ticket. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatHe is an IT worker who has lived in Ireland for 24 years. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatHe had previously changed his name by deed poll to a more Irish one. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatHe was to proceed to his final destination to meet his contact and share confidential information that could create risk to the Irish state. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatHe had used four other variations of names. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatHe held an Irish passport and two other non-Irish travel documents. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatDaniel Aruebose was born on 12 December 2017. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatDaniel would now be eight years old. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatIt had been a number of years since a confirmed sighting of Daniel. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatDaniel Aruebose was found buried in an unmarked grave in waste ground outside Donabate in September 2025. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whereDaniel was buried in an unmarked grave in waste ground outside Donabate. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whereDaniel lived in The Gallery Apartments in Donabate, north county Dublin. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whereThe boy had lived in The Gallery Apartments in Donabate, north county Dublin. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whenHe was arrested in the departures area at Dublin Airport on 28 May 2026. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenHe had been in Ireland lawfully since 2002 and progressed to citizenship. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenDaniel died in 2021. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whenTusla raised concerns about Daniel with An Garda Síochána on 29 August 2025. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whenDaniel's remains were found in September 2025. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whenConcerns about Daniel were first raised by Tusla on 29 August 2025. (dublinlive.ie)
  • investigationGardaí seized electronic devices and documents during a search of his home computer. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationGardaí seized his desktop computer from his workplace. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe investigation team has engaged with law enforcement in the US, Brazil, France, UK, Australia, Portugal, Interpol, and the UAE Embassy. (dublinlive.ie)
  • investigationCoordination has been maintained with the PSNI, the DPP, and Mutual Legal Assistance channels. (dublinlive.ie)
  • investigationOver 800 jobs have been conducted by Garda personnel in the past year. (dublinlive.ie)
  • investigationThe investigation team has taken over 400 statements. (dublinlive.ie)
  • investigationOver 100 physical exhibits and nearly 300 documentary exhibits have been retained. (dublinlive.ie)
  • investigationA technical examination of an apartment at The Gallery Apartments was conducted on 31 August 2025. (dublinlive.ie)
  • investigationGardaí took charge of an area of open ground in Donabate on 1 September 2025. (dublinlive.ie)
  • investigationGardaí discovered the human remains of a child on open ground in Donabate on 17 September 2025. (dublinlive.ie)
  • investigationDNA analysis confirmed the remains to be those of Daniel Aruebose. (dublinlive.ie)
  • investigationA post-mortem examination was carried out at Dublin City Mortuary on 19 September 2025. (dublinlive.ie)
  • investigationA woman in her 20s was arrested on suspicion of murder on 22 December 2025 and released without charge. (dublinlive.ie)
  • investigationA man in his 20s was arrested on suspicion of murder on 10 February 2026 and released without charge. (dublinlive.ie)
  • investigationThe case is being led by Swords Garda Station with support from multiple divisions and international partners. (dublinlive.ie)
  • investigationThe investigation has involved collaboration with law enforcement in the US, Brazil, France, UK, Australia, Portugal and other jurisdictions. (dublinlive.ie)
  • investigationOver 800 investigative actions have been conducted in the past year. (dublinlive.ie)
  • investigationGardaí took over 400 statements and retained hundreds of exhibits. (dublinlive.ie)
  • investigationSpecialist resources including forensic anthropologists, archaeologists and cadaver dogs have been utilised. (dublinlive.ie)
  • investigationAuthorities are appealing to anyone who lived in The Gallery Apartments complex between July 2019 and now to come forward. (dublinlive.ie)
  • chargeThe SDU charged him with four offences between 11 July 2025 and 28 May 2026. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeThe first charge is under the Criminal Justice (Corruption Offences) Act 2018 for unlawfully disclosing confidential information from a specific government department. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeHe also faces a charge of breaching the Data Protection Act. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeHe faces two counts under the Official Secrets Act for retaining official data and communicating it prejudicially to the safety and preservation of the State. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe DPP directed the case to proceed on indictment at a higher level. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe DPP stated the trial will be held in the Special Criminal Court. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtHe has been a remand prisoner since 30 May when bail was denied. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtHe was remanded in continuing custody to appear at Cloverhill District Court on 25 September. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherHe came to Ireland because he was gay and faced discrimination beforehand. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherHe remains suspended from work pending the outcome of the case. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 28 Aug2026
    Reporteddublinlive.ie, follow-up
    Daniel Aruebose murder investigation everything you need to know one year on

    One-year milestone summary of the investigation; renewed appeal for information from residents of The Gallery Apartments, Donabate, between July 2019 and present; details of investigative scale and international collaboration provided.

    victim, Daniel Aruebose, 8, male, non-irish (judged from name)Daniel Aruebose
  2. 28 Aug2026
    Reporteddublinlive.ie, follow-up
    Daniel Aruebose murder investigation reaches one year as gardai renew appeal

    One-year anniversary of the investigation; renewed public appeal; timeline of key investigation milestones provided; details of international cooperation and resources deployed.

    victim, Daniel Aruebose, 8, male, non-irish (judged from name)Daniel Aruebosesuspect, 20s, femalesuspect, 20s, male
  3. 28 Aug2026
    In courtirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Civil servant to face non-jury Special Criminal Court over alleged leaks to foreign handler

    DPP directed trial to Special Criminal Court; accused remanded in custody since 30 May; next appearance 25 September at Cloverhill District Court; defence highlighted three months in custody and called for expedition

    accused, Yevgen McKeeffe, 46, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Yevgen McKeeffe