Man and woman arrested over Baby John murder

'Significant development' in bid to get justice for child. Experts worked on sample from 'tot exhumed in 2021

- MICHAEL O’TOOLE

GARDAI were last night questioning two suspects over the murder of one of the infants in the infamous Kerry babies case.

A man in his 60s and a woman in her 50s were arrested in rural Co Kerry yesterday evening on suspicion of the murder of Baby John, a brutal killing that stretches back almost 40 years.

Sources told the Irish Mirror the decision to arrest the pair, who are known to each other, was taken after detectives secured a DNA match following a dramatic breakthrough in technology.

It’s understood specialist gardai and experts from Forensic Science Ireland worked on a DNA sample taken from the remains of the baby after they were exhumed in 2021.

Gardai confirmed the latest arrests last night.

The force said in a statement: “This evening, Thursday March 23, 2023, gardai arrested two people, a male in his 60s and a female in her 50s, in relation to the discovery of the body of a male infant at White Strand, Cahersiveen, Co Kerry on April 14, 1984.

“They were arrested in the Munster region on suspicion of the offence of murder and are currently detained at Garda stations in the south of the country under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984.”

The pair can be held for up to 24 hours, after which they must either be charged or released.

Gardai also last night said that they have been reviewing the case since 2018 and appealed for witnesses to come forward.

Superintendent Flor Murphy, who has been leading the investigation, said: “An extensive investigation has been ongoing since 2018 into this incident by gardai in the Kerry Division supported by the Garda Serious Crime Review Team.

“Hundreds of people have been interviewed and over 560 lines of enquiry have been initiated.

COMPASSION