The foster family who cared for Daniel Aruebose during the first year and a half of his life have expressed their heartbreak over his disappearance, reports RTE.
In a statement to The Journal, they shared that Daniel was always on their minds after he was returned to his biological family, and that they missed him deeply when he left their care.
New images shared by the family show Daniel as a joyful, bright, and healthy young boy, reports RTE.
They said he enjoyed music and dancing, and had been a cherished part of their home.
Human remains were uncovered during the search for Daniel Aruebose, who vanished over four years ago at around the age of three.
The remains are expected to be removed today from the site on Portrane Road for a paediatric post-mortem examination, reports RTE.
Gardaà had been searching the site for two weeks after receiving information suggesting Daniel had died of natural causes and was secretly buried at the Donabate location.
Officials expect the remains to be exhumed later today in what they describe as “a careful and sensitive” process, reports RTE.
A forensic pathologist specialising in paediatrics will perform a post-mortem on the remains in hopes of determining the cause of death.
The outcome of the examination will guide the direction of the investigation. Detectives are aiming to determine whether the child’s death was natural, accidental, or potentially involved foul play, reports RTE.
DNA testing will be conducted to verify the child’s identity, followed by an official identification.
Tusla alerted Gardaà to Daniel’s disappearance after the Department of Social Protection found irregularities in a child benefit application.
The child protection agency confirmed that it had previously been involved with Daniel and his family, reports RTE.
Before going missing, Daniel lived at The Gallery apartments in Donabate.
Gardaà have already conducted a forensic search of his former residence but are continuing door-to-door inquiries and are eager to speak with anyone who has lived in the area since July 2019.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin described the discovery of Daniel Aruebose’s remains as “deeply, deeply shocking and sad”, reports RTE.
Speaking from the National Ploughing Championships, Mr Martin said the family, local community, and the nation were “deeply saddened”.
“We have to await further investigations by the gardaà and by others into the background here to then inform us in terms of how we take this forward, and also in terms of looking at our systems … in terms of following and tracking young people and children in a society where the population is growing,” he said, reports RTE.
“There is more fluidity and movement in people from area to area, or in and out of the country, and that’s more of a modern phenomenon than perhaps would have been the case in the past,” reports RTE.
To the best of my knowledge the child was not in care at the time the child went missing. There are issues that we will examine, but we have to do it in an evidence-based and informed manner.
“But it’s very, very sad,” reports RTE.
However, Mr Martin also expressed concern over people jumping to conclusions in Daniel’s case.
He said many individuals working in Tusla are “very genuine” and “flat out”.
“We need to learn from what has happened. It’s shocking. It’s very poigniant and very sad to see a young, beautiful child go missing and to die,” he said, reports RTE.
“We don’t know the full circumstances as to how Daniel died but it speaks to the heart of all of us as parents that something like that has happened and it is a reflection on wider society and all of us,” reports RTE.
Earlier, local Labour councillor Corina Johnston said the entire community is in mourning and shock.
Speaking to RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, she pointed out that the search site is close to two primary schools, a walking path, and a cycle lane.
“A lot of children are asking questions the last couple of weeks, so it has been a very, very difficult time for this community,” she added, reports RTE.
Ms Johnston said a second vigil in memory of Daniel is being planned, with details likely to be announced soon.
She stated that the State “has questions to answer”, and said the relevant minister has asked Tusla to review its interactions with Daniel’s family, with findings expected in a few weeks, reports RTE.
She believes a broader public inquiry is necessary.
“This can’t happen again. This is an absolutely horrific tragedy and we cannot see this happen again to another child in this State,” she said, reports RTE.
“Anyone that has any information that may be able to assist the gardaà in their investigation, I’m appealing for them to come forward. I’m also calling for the minister to provide supports for the many children, teachers and support staff in our local schools who are traumatised and have been asking questions over the last couple of weeks,” she said, reports RTE.
In the Dáil, Social Democrats deputy leader Cian O’Callaghan called for independent statutory reviews to be initiated in all cases where children known to Tusla go missing.
During Leaders’ Questions, Mr O’Callaghan said “something very seriously went wrong” in Daniel Aruebose’s case.
Tusla is currently carrying out a rapid review, and the case has been referred to the National Review Panel — a response Mr O’Callaghan said is “not good enough”, reports RTE.
He argued that an independent statutory review is the least that should be done in Daniel’s memory.
“This is not to apportion blame, it’s to find out what went wrong to make sure it never happens again, to prevent more children disappearing and dying. Daniel was failed in life, let’s not fail in him in death,” he said, reports RTE.
In reply, Tánaiste Simon Harris stated that the Government is committed to conducting a review, and that it must be carried out swiftly.
“The point of putting it (NRP) on a statuary footing is entirely accepted by Government and is a valid point. I think it would be extraordinarily foolish for Government to rule out any action that may be required in relation to this situation. This has shook our country to its core, it’s deeply distressing what’s happened and it’s even more distressing now when we see the name and the face of the little boy Daniel,” reports RTE.
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