Inquest into Aruebose's death adjourned over garda probe

Inquest over Daniel Aruebose's death adjourned over garda investigation

Updated / Thursday, 5 Nov 2026 15:50

An inquest into the death of Daniel Aruebose, who would have turned nine next month, has been adjourned pending an ongoing garda investigation, with criminal proceedings "being contemplated".

The child's skeletal remains were found buried in waste ground outside Donabate in Dublin in August last year and gardaí launched a murder investigation.

The opening of the inquest at Dublin District Court heard evidence from Dr Gillian Lavelle, a forensic scientist in the DNA section of Forensic Science Ireland as to whether those skeletal remains were those of Daniel Aruebose, the biological child of Maria Aruebose and Ciaran Dirrane.

Dr Lavelle said that this was "a challenging case from a DNA perspective" given the "extremely decomposed condition of the remains".

She told the inquest that three different DNA profiling techniques had been used.

They were autosomal STR DNA profiling, which she described as "standard DNA profiling"; mitochondrial DNA profiling, which she explained was the DNA that is "maternally inherited"; and Y-STR DNA profiling "which is paternally inherited".

Dr Lavelle said that the DNA findings from all three "support the hypothesis" that the remains were those of the biological child of Ms Aruebose and Mr Dirrane.

Dr Lavelle said it was two million times more likely that the deceased was their biological child rather than a child who was unknown or unrelated to them.

Coroner Dr Myra Cullinane said this provided "very strong support" that the remains were those of Daniel Aruebose.

Detective Inspector Sean Early then made an application to adjourn the inquest on the basis that "inquiries are ongoing and criminal proceedings are being contemplated".

Dr Cullinane adjourned the inquest for six months until May 2027.

None of Daniel's family members or relatives were present at today's proceedings.

Solictor Martin O'Donnell attended the inquest, representing his mother Marie Aruebose.

Dr Cullinane extended her sympathies to the extended family of the deceased and "to anybody who has been affected".
Daniel's death and burial had been concealed until a check on social welfare payments first raised concerns at the Department of Social Protection for his safety and whereabouts.

The department alerted Tusla who contacted gardaí on 29 August 2025.

In September 2025, following searches on open ground in Donabate, Daniel's remains were discovered and exhumed from the burial site.

It had been a number of years since there had been any confirmed sighting of Daniel.

A post-mortem examination was carried out at Dublin City Mortuary.

Following enquiries conducted at that time and based on information available to gardaí, a homicide investigation was launched into Daniel’s death.