Full Daniel Aruebose timeline from missing to discovery of skeletal remains
It's the story that has shocked the nation - but on Wednesday, gardai investigating the disappearance of little Daniel Aruebose made a major breakthrough when they found a child's skeletal remains near Portrane Road in Donabate. The following timeline is an in-depth look at how the case exploded open at the end of August bringing us right up to the present day when the breakthrough was confirmed: Friday, August 29: Gardai in Swords station are alerted to the case by Tusla – Child and Family Agency. They had earlier been contacted by staff from the Department of Social Protection after concerns about an application for child benefit. Saturday, August 30: Gardai call to an apartment in Donabate, north Co Dublin and interview a woman. She tells them her child died around four years ago and has been secretly buried. Officers begin a major investigation. Sunday, August 31: The apartment is sealed off and gardai carry out a forensic search of it. Nothing of evidential value is found. The woman also brings gardai to a site on the Portrane Road in Donabate where she says she and the child's father buried the little boy.
Daniel Aruebose
Monday, September 1: Gardai confirm an investigation is underway into the disappearance of a boy from north Dublin. Officers seal off the area of land pointed out by the mother. Tuesday, September 2: Garda specialists begin a fingertip search of the cordoned off area of land. A cadaver dog is also brought in to help search for the boy. Nothing is found on the first day. The Irish Mirror also reveals that the little boy, who was aged around three when he was last seen, had been in state care for just over a year after his birth. The parents had decided to give the boy up for adoption and he was placed in foster care. The parents then changed their mind and the boy was handed back to them in 2020. Tusla said there was no new referral or information of concern was received about the child after that date. Officers speak to both parents. They both insist the child died of natural causes and they panicked and buried him. Gardai cannot rule out foul play and sources say only a postmortem on any remains found will reveal the truth. Wednesday, September 3: Taoiseach Micheal Martin speaks out about the missing boy investigation. He says: "It is very, very distressing in terms of what has happened here. The Garda investigation is underway, I would caution against people rushing to conclusions and apportioning blame far too early. Tusla has issued a statement in respect of its engagement with the child and with the family. What is important now is that the gardai can bring this investigation to a conclusion as quickly as possible." Thursday, September 4: The dig continues. And the Irish Association of Social Workers (IASW) calls for a statutory review of the case. And local Labour TD Duncan Smith says: "The village and peninsula is in absolute shock and have a state of total compassion for the poor child that gardai are searching for at the moment. We don't know the full facts yet but from what we do know Tusla has serious, serious questions to answer, this could shake the very foundation and I believe the very future of Tusla, that's how serious this is. It's an absolute tragedy and our thoughts and prayers are with those who loved that child and the community of Donabate and the peninsula of north county Dublin." Friday, September 5: We reveal that the Garda fingertip search of the site has been concluded and the force is set to bring in diggers as part of the operation there. Saturday, September 6: The child's mother makes another visit to the site on the Portrane Road. She indicates another plot of land where she says she believes the boy is buried. That area becomes the focus of the search. Sunday, September 7: We reveal that the boy's father has left Ireland and has begun a new life and relationship in Brazil. The Garda search of the site continues. Monday, September 8: We reveal that the boy's mum claims to gardai she and her then partner kept his body in their apartment for 24 hours after he died before burying him the next night. It also emerges that a report by the National Review Panel into the case could take a year. Wednesday, September 10: We reveal that the mother told gardai that the little boy was secretly buried with his favourite teddy bear. Gardai were also allegedly told he was wrapped in a blanket, placed in a rucksack and taken to the marshy land in Donabate that was the focus of the search. Thursday, September 11: We report that there is no sign of anything belonging to the boy in the apartment. "There's no sign of anything belonging to the little boy in the apartment, not even a toy or clothes," sources told us. "And because of that it looks like the child never even lived there, which he did but with everything of his gone, it's as if he didn't even exist. But the little boy did exist and did live in the apartment." Tuesday, September 16: We run photos of the inside of the apartment. And we reveal that the boy's father once made an online tribute about his dead dog, but made no mention of his child. Wednesday, September 17: Gardai reveal they have found human child skeletal remains at the site and believe they are those of the missing boy. They name him as Daniel Aruebose, 7. Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. For all the latest news from Dublin and surrounding areas visit our homepage.
