A search for a boy, who is missing and presumed dead, in north Co Dublin will continue today.
The search, which is expected to take a number of days, involves excavation of open land outside the village of Donabate and includes members of the Garda Technical Bureau.
Today marks the third day of the search.
Gardaà have appealed to the media to provide investigating gardaà “space and time” to carry out the investigation and search operation “sympathetically for everybody involved”.
In a statement, they said they were continuing to engage with people connected with the investigation.
Gardaà said they were aware that a small number of individuals in the media “are attempting to make unsolicited and unwanted direct contact” with those connected with the investigation.
The search is expected to take a number of days
However, they added that the attempted contacts “are having a direct negative impact on this investigation”.
They said they are continuing to investigate all the circumstances of the disappearance and current whereabouts of the boy, who would now be aged seven.
Minister asks Tusla to review cases closed during Covid
Yesterday, Minister for Children Norma Foley said she had asked Tusla to conduct well-being checks on cases closed during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Ms Foley described the case as “hugely disturbing”.
Speaking at a press conference, Ms Foley said she asked the chief executive of Tusla to undertake well-being checks “on all cases, in particular in relation to children during Covid-19, particularly beginning with cases that were closed”.
Read more:
Questions asked of Tusla as Donabate search continues
“I know for a variety of reasons cases can close at different times, I know they can also reopen. But specifically, for cases that have closed that they would do a well-being check on those children and Tusla has agreed to do that,” she said.
Ms Foley also said Tusla were conducting a “rapid review” in relation to the case.