Who are the 137 children missing in Ireland since 1977?
Mary Boyle, Kyran Durnin, Philip Cairns: Three high-profile cases of children who went missing in Ireland.
Some of the faces stare out from the computer screen, their pose capturing a moment in time when their future was bright, when dreams were waiting to come true.
For others, the screen shows solemn young people whose mugshots were meant only for passports. These images form the missing persons files of the gardaí and Interpol.
More than 130 children and young people have disappeared across Ireland since 1977, and remain missing. They include the well-known names of Kyran Durnin from Louth, Philip Cairns from Dublin, Ciara Breen from Louth and Mary Boyle from Donegal, Ireland’s longest-missing child who disappeared in 1977.
The vast majority of the missing children are migrants.
The files include:
- Children from Nigeria, Somalia, Moldova, Georgia, Uganda, Sierra Leone, Afghanistan, Ukraine, Belarus, Iran, Iraq, Morocco, Kenya and Romania — many have not been seen since the first decade of this millennium
- Approximately 40 Chinese teenagers went missing between October 2006 and December 2009, mainly from addresses in Dublin. Some of those disappearances were on the same day — for example, three were last seen in Dublin city centre on January 1, 2009.
- 11 young people went missing from accommodation on South Richmond Street, Dublin 2, between 2005 and 2009, while five who had been in accommodation on North Circular Road, Dublin 7, disappeared on dates between 2005 and 2007.
- Four Kenyan girls all went missing on the same day in July 2007 from accommodation on Lower Gardiner Street in Dublin.
- One 13-year-old who disappeared from Clare in 2019
- Two who went missing from the Red Cow Hotel in Dublin on the same date in October 2020
- 25 children have gone missing between 2020 and the end of 2024, compared with none being missing in the period between June 2013 and March 2017.
- 32 children in the Tusla scheme for separated children seeking international protection were missing as of December 23. This figure was up from 23 in May, and from 19 last April.
The missing person reports stopped mentioning the nationality of the missing children in 2017.
Ruth Breslin, the director of the Sexual Exploitation Research and Policy Institute (SERP), is concerned about the high number of migrant children among Ireland’s missing people.
She said: “The split between migrant versus Irish children who have gone missing is striking.
"It is clear that when an Irish child goes missing these cases receive greater public attention and enter the public consciousness.
"I would almost consider the likes of Mary Boyle, Philip Cairns and Kyran Durnin to now be ‘household names’, as it were.
"In contrast, the man or woman on the street is unlikely to be able to name the migrant children who have gone missing in Ireland.
"The early 2000s in Ireland saw the first victims of cross-border trafficking identified.
"Some arrived along what was later understood to be established human trafficking routes, for example victims from Western Africa or Central and Eastern Europe trafficked to Western European states.
"It is notable that many of the children who went missing during this period originated from those places.”
Ms Breslin raised concerns about the disappearance of 16 children from accommodation on South Richmond Street and North Circular Road in Dublin, saying: “This is concerning because we already know from our own research that vulnerable young people accommodated by the State are being targeted for exploitation by perpetrators who are well aware of the vulnerabilities of the children who tend to reside in such locations.”
A spokeswoman for Tusla told the : “The vast majority of young people in the SCSIP (Separated Children Seeking International Protection) service reported as missing are aged over 16 years.
"Some of these young people communicated their intention to travel on to other countries to join family members, and some indicated that it was never their intention to remain in Ireland and left soon after they arrived in the country.
"For those who did not subsequently make us aware of their whereabouts, these young people are counted as missing and An Garda Síochána are notified accordingly and are reviewed in engagement with other policing authorities in Northern Ireland, elsewhere in the United Kingdom and Europe.”
Tusla and An Garda Síochána have a joint protocol for young people missing from care settings, under which gardaí are informed when a young person in care is deemed to be missing.
The Tusla spokeswoman said: “During all our care planning work, consideration is given as to whether there are indicators or extra vulnerabilities relating to exploitation.”
She said that most young people reported as ‘missing’ return to their placement after a brief period of time.
Referring to children who have been missing since the first decade of this century, she said that Tusla does not have verified data from between 2006 and 2009 to confirm how many children were in the care system at the time that they were reported missing.
“Tusla had strong links with An Garda Síochána around the risk of absconsion of Separated Children Seeking International Protection (SCSIP), particularly Chinese young people.
"Before 2009, Separated Children Seeking International Protection were rarely received into care, and they were accommodated in hostel-type accommodation without social care staff.”
Ms Breslin is concerned that factors, including the migrant status of many of Ireland’s missing children, is a reason for concern that trafficking may be an issue, especially as some may have arrived in Ireland unaccompanied.
She said that some had been living “in potentially precarious circumstances in places that were not their fixed abode" which is another factor that could contribute to their greater vulnerability to exploitation and trafficking.
“The concern also persists that because these children are migrants, an assumption may be made that they have simply left the country of their own accord or that a family member came and took them home to their country of origin," she said.
"However, where this has not been clearly established, then the search for them to determine their whereabouts, safety and welfare should remain a priority.”
Missing children timeline
2024
Chloe McDonagh (15), Missing date: 26/12/2024
Circumstances: Last seen in Drogheda, Co. Louth
Asadullah Hussain Khel (16), Missing date: 26/12/2024
Last seen on Dunluce Road, Clontarf
Ali Mohamed Abdulle (17), Missing date: 05/12/2024
Last seen in Glasnevin
Odai Alsahma (17), Missing date: 25/10/2024
Last seen in Raheny but may have travelled to Dublin city centre.
Ahmed Muhamed (16), Missing date: 14/10/2024
Circumstances: Missing from Navan, Ahmed was last seen at approximately 7.30am.
Xamda Aadun Dalchure (17), Missing date:14/09/2024
Last seen in Navan, Co. Meath, at approximately 5pm.
Kyran Durnin (6), Missing date:30/08/2024
Circumstances: The last confirmed sighting of Kyran Durnin from Drogheda, Co Louth, was in May 2022 but he was not reported missing until August 2024. Two people have been questioned about his disappearance and a murder investigation was launched in October 2024.
Ermal Peposhi (17), Missing date: 30/8/2024
Albanian who went missing from Dundalk, Co Louth (subject of Interpol Yellow notice)
Aurel Hoxha (17), Missing date:24/07/2024
Last seen in Raheny
Moagad Riad Sabaihi (17), Missing date: 07/05/2024
Missing from Carlow town
Samiha Abeirzak (15), Missing date: 06/05/2024
Last seen in Clongriffin
Suhaib Muhamad Yasin Hakem (16), Missing date: 24/04/2024
Last seen in Clontarf
Ibrahim Deniz (16), Missing date:16/04/2024
Missing from the Clontarf area.
Mohammed Abolerdi (16), Missing date: 23/03/2024
Last seen in East Wall
2023
Shahkar Khan Shirwari (16), Missing date: 02/11/2023
Last seen in the Clongriffin area at 7.10am.
Abdallah Elsharkway (17), Missing date:22/08/2023
Last seen in Dublin area
Phuc Phu Nguyen (14), Missing date: 20/07/2023
Vietnamese native who disappeared in Dublin (subject of Interpol Yellow notice)
Sagal Muhammad Hassan (15), Missing date: 19/03/2023
Missing from the Drogheda/Laytown area.
Neraid Corja (16), Missing date: 10/03/2023
Missing from the Broadford area of Co Kildare
2022
Lisa Virginia Vidak (15), Missing date: 27/11/2022
Missing from her home in Waterford (subject of Interpol Yellow notice)
Zakariya Hassan (16), Missing date: 17/11/2022
Last seen at approximately 5pm in the Dublin 8 area.
Ahmed Kafer Esmael Mohamedomer (17), Missing date: 16/09/2022
Missing from the Rosslare Harbour area of County Wexford.
Samiullah Kamawal (14), Missing date: 08/08/2022
Afghan missing from Dublin (subject of Interpol Yellow notice)
2020
Aelem Daniael (15), Missing date: 05/10/2020
Missing from the Red Cow Hotel, Clondalkin, Dublin 22
Salem Semere (16), Missing date: 05/10/2020
Went missing from the Red Cow Hotel, Clondalkin, Dublin 22
Abdikaafi Ahmed Jawuu (16), Missing date: 01/10/2020
Missing from the Rathfarnham area of Co Dublin.
Abid Oryakhel (14), Missing date: 15/05/2020
Last seen in Ballsbridge.
2019
Aman Brid Singh Chopra (13), Missing date: 14/11/2019
Last seen in Co Clare
Qiang Fang (15), Missing date: 26/04/2019
Went missing from Rathfarnham
2017
Bryir Jange (15), Missing date:14/08/2017
Missing from Navan, Meath.
Rohullah Essakhail (14), Missing date:13/04/2017
Afghan who is missing from the Dublin area (subject of Interpol Yellow notice)
Abdalle Ahmed Hussein (17), Missing date: 26/03/2017
He is missing from the Celbridge area of Co Kildare.
2013
Sarah Kamuntu (16), Missing date: 12/06/2013
From Congo, she is missing from the Dublin 4 area.
Xin Fan Xue (16), Missing date: 09/02/2013
Chinese national missing from the Rathfarnham area of Dublin.
2012
Naima Ali Adan (16), Missing date: 11/12/2012
Somalian national missing from the Templeogue area of Dublin.
Said Mohamed (17), Missing date: 10/02/2012
Algerian who disappeared in Dublin (subject of Interpol Yellow notice)
2011
Li Huan (16), Missing date: 22/05/2011
Chinese national last seen in Dublin airport (subject of Interpol Yellow notice)
Adam Khan Al Kozai (16), Missing date: 25/04/2011
Afghan boy missing from the Templeogue area of Dublin, who was last seen on O'Connell Street, Dublin.
2010
Rahid Lawi (17), Missing date: 20/02/2010
Algerian native missing from his accommodation in the south city area of Dublin.
2009
Hua Huag (17), Missing date: 14/12/2009
Chinese boy missing from his accommodation from the Dublin 2 area.
Jie Lin (17), Missing date: 20/09/2009
Chinese native missing from his accommodation from the Dublin 2 area.
Xing Ye (17), Missing date: 20/09/2009
Chinese boy missing from his accommodation from the Dublin 2 area.
Yukun Lin (16), Missing date: 05/09/2009
Chinese boy missing from his accommodation in the South Dublin area since 9th May 2009.
Xiao Qing Lin (17), Missing date: 20/08/2009
Chinese girl missing from her accommodation in the Dublin 6 area.
Ming Wan Lin (17), Missing date: 15/08/2009
Chinese boy missing from his accommodation from the Dublin 2 area.
Nong Nong Li (16), Missing date:13/08/2009
Missing from his accommodation in the Dublin 2 area
Lin Zehn (17), Missing date: 20/06/2009
Chinese girl missing from her accommodation in the Dublin 7 area.
Zhi Xiang Wang (16), Missing date:14/06/2009
Chinese boy missing from his accommodation from the Dublin 2 area.
Wang Mei (16), Missing date:07/06/2009
Chinese girl missing from her accommodation at Lower Grand Canal St, Dublin 2
Wen Chan Wong (16), Missing date:01/06/2009
Chinese boy missing from his accommodation in the Dublin 2 area.
Ismail Abdulahi Malin (17), Missing date:19/05/2009
Somalian native missing from his accommodation in South Dublin City area.
Adulrahman Abubakir Abdullah (17), Missing date:02/05/2009
Iraqi national, is missing from his accommodation in the Dublin 2 area.
Li Ki Yeh (15), Missing date: 20/04/2009
Chinese native reported missing from his accommodation in Dublin 2.
Wang Bao Ying (16), Missing date: 18/04/2009
Chinese native missing from her accommodation from the Dublin 7 area.
Ai Jiao (16), Missing date:13/03/2009
Chinese national did not return to her accommodation in Dublin 7.
He Shu Hui (15), Missing date: 07/03/2009
A native of China, reported missing from his accommodation in Dublin 2
Ke Fi Lin (17), Missing date: 03/03/2009
Chinese native missing from his accommodation in the Dublin 2 area.
Yan Yan Huang (15), Missing date: 31/01/2009
Missing from her accommodation in Dublin.
Chen Hong Yu (15), Missing date: 28/01/2009
Circumstances: Chen Hong Yu is missing from her accommodation in West Dublin. She was last seen in Parnell Square in Dublin 1 as above.
Xiao Ming Chen (14), Missing date:28/01/2009
Chinese girl missing from her accommodation in West Dublin and was last seen in Parnell Square, Dublin 1.
Xiaolan Zhang (17), Missing date: 26/01/2009
Chinese girl missing from her accommodation at North Dublin around 12pm.
Ping Ping Li (17), Missing date: 02/01/2009
Chinese native missing from his accommodation in Dublin.
2008
Yu Ping Yu (17), Missing date: 27/12/2008
Circumstances: Chinese boy missing from his accomodation in the Dublin 2 area.
He Dao Biao (16), Missing date:15/12/2008
Reported missing from his accommodation in the Dublin 2 area.
Xianying Yu (16), Missing date: 08/11/2008
Chinese boy missing from his accommodation in Dublin 2.
Tan Yu (16), Missing date: 28/10/2008
Chinese girl missing from her accommodation in the North Dublin area.
Xing Chen Cao (day before 17th birthday), Missing date: 08/10/2008
Chinese boy is missing from his accommodation at Aungier St, Dublin 2.
Xiu Qiong Wang (17), Missing date: 01/10/2008
Chinese girl missing from her accommodation in the north Dublin area.
Chen Zhiwei (17), Missing date: 21/08/2008
Chinese native missing from Limerick.
Ting Chen (17), Missing date:07/07/2008
Chinese girl missing from her accommodation in North Dublin City.
Long Zhou (15), Missing date: 12/01/2008
Chinese boy missing from his accommodation in Dublin 2.
2007
Zhen Zhou (16), Missing date: 13/12/2007
Chinese boy missing from his accommodation from the Dublin 2 area
Yamind Wei (16), Missing date: 04/12/2007
Chinese girl missing from her accommodation in the Dublin 7 area
Sheng Xue (17), Missing date: 29/11/2007
Chinese boy missing from Dublin.
You Bao Yu (17), Missing date: 27/11/2007
Chinese boy missing from Sandford Rd Dublin 6.
Xin Juan Shi (17), Missing date: 26/11/2007
Chinese native missing from her accommodation in the North City area of Dublin.
Tai Chen (16), Missing date:24/11/2007
Chinese native missing from his accommodation in South Dublin
Er Ping Wu (17), Missing date: 19/11/2007
Chinese native reported missing from his accommodation in Dublin 2
Debby Ehiwenma (16), Missing date: 11/11/2007
Nigerian native missing from Palmerstown Dublin 2 (subject of Interpol Yellow notice)
Chen Jia Xing (17), Missing date: 25/10/2007
Chinese boy disappeared from south Dublin.
Ying Ying Chen (17), Missing date: 09/10/2007
The Chinese girl is missing from her accommodation on the north side of the city of Dublin.
Xiangming Zhong (15), Missing date: 21/08/2007
Chinese native is missing from his accommodation at South Richmond St, Dublin 2.
Alice Mumbi Wanbui (15), Missing date:15/07/2007
Kenyan is missing from her accommodation at Lr. Gardiner St, Dublin 1.
Jane Rose Nyambura (16), Missing date:15/07/2007
Kenyan native missing from her accommodation at Lr. Gardiner St, Dublin 1.
Jean Brenda Wanjiku (13), Missing date: 15/07/2007
Kenyan native missing from her accommodation at Lr. Gardiner St, Dublin 1.
Magdaline Nyagathii (15), Missing date: 15/07/2007
She is a Kenyan native who is missing from her accommodation at Lr. Gardiner St, Dublin 1.
Le Hong (17), Date of birth: 17/06/2007
The Vietnamese boy is missing from his accommodation at Aungier St, Dublin 2.
Barham Salih (17), Missing date: 01/06/2007
The Iraqi is missing from his accommodation at Aungier St, Dublin 2.
Sylvia Igbinoba (15), Missing date:12/05/2007
Missing from her accommodation at Riversdale Ave, Palmerstown,Dublin.
Heng Duan Guo (16), Missing date: 02/05/2007
Chinese native missing from his accommodation at South Richmond St, Dublin 2.
Fadhli Sassa (16), Missing date:30/04/2007
Algerian missing from his accommodation in the Dublin 6 area.
Mohammed Hmeda (15), Missing date: 01/03/2007
Algerian missing from his accommodation in the Dublin 2 area since the 25th January 2007.
Song Wong (15), Missing date:12/02/2007
Chinese native missing from his accommodation in the Dublin 2 area
He Yong (16), Missing date:15/01/2007
Chinese native missing from his accommodation at South Richmond St, Dublin 2.
Zhu Mei Wang (17), Missing date: 15/01/2007
Missing from her accommodation at Lower Grand Canal St, Dublin 2
He Quing (16), Missing date:03/01/2007
Chinese native missing from her accommodation at North Circular Road, Dublin 7
2006
He Qin (17), Missing date:18/12/2006
Chinese national missing from her accommodation at North Circular Road, Dublin 7
Hussein Nowrozi (17), Missing date:15/12/2006
An Afghan missing from his accommodation at South Richmond St, Dublin 2.
Azeddine Sabor (16), Missing date:10/11/2006
Moroccan missing from his accommodation at South Richmond Street, Dublin 2.
Weiquo Zhou (17), Missing date:04/10/2006
Chinese national missing from his accommodation at South Richmond Street, Dublin 2.
Ioan Acatrinia (17), Missing date:12/09/2006
The Moldovan is missing from his accommodation at South Richmond Street, Dublin 2.
Yuri Arlov (17), Missing date:25/07/2006
From Belarus, he is missing from his accommodation at Sandford Road, Ranelagh, Dublin 6.
Mohammed Amiri Nejad (17), Missing date:20/06/2006
An Iranian national, he is missing from his accommodation on South Richmond Street, Dublin 2.
Ubah Ali Shiff (17), Missing date:30/05/2006
The Somalian national is missing from her accommodation on North Circular Road, Dublin.
Ecaterina Bivol (16), Missing date: 25/05/2006
The Moldovan was staying in accommodation at North Circular Rd, Dublin 7.
Sorin Andrei Ursu (15), Missing date: 20/04/2006
The Romanian national is missing from his accommodation at Sandford Road, Dublin 6 and may be in the company of another Romanian national, Alexander Vlasie.
Alexandru Vlasie (15), Missing date: 20/04/2006
The Romanian is missing from his accommodation at Sandford Road, Ranelagh, Dublin 6
Daniel Cerdei (16), Missing date: 20/04/2006
Also known as Dave, he was a native of Moldova and was staying in accommodation on South Richmond St, Dublin 2.
Idowu Oluwuseun Fuwa (16), Missing date:30/03/2006
The Nigerian national is missing from his accommodation at Aungier Street, Dublin 2.
Alin Calin (16), Missing date: 06/03/2006
Missing from his accommodation at Aungier St, Dublin 2.
Daniel Kano (17), Missing date: 28/02/2006
The Romanian is missing from his accommodation at Richmond St, Dublin 2.
Alexander Moiseyev (17), Missing date:24/02/2006
The native of Belarus is missing from his accommodation at Sandford Rd, Ranelagh, Dublin 6.
Andrey Bolskov (17), Missing date:30/01/2006
The Ukrainian native is missing from his accommodation at Carrigaline Rd, Cork, Co. Cork.
Uri Baliskov (14), Missing date: 30/01/2006
Missing from his accommodation at Carrigaline Rd, Cork, Co. Cork.
Gheorge Papuc (14), Missing date:03/01/2006
The Romanian is missing from his accommodation at Ballyhooley Road, Cork city.
2005
Adel Azizi (15), Missing date:22/12/2005
The Afghan national is missing from his accommodation in Lucan, Co Dublin.
Hope Osas (17), Missing date: 21/11/05
Hope attended college in Dundalk and was thought to have possibly gone to Dublin.
Cabdi Rahman Cabdulami Geedi (17), Missing date:08/11/2005
The Somalian is missing from his accommodation on Aungier Street.
Jamal Maxamed (17), Missing date:02/07/2005
The Somalian national has been missing from his accommodation at Aunger Street, Dublin 2.
Dumitru Bratu (16), Missing date: 27/05/2005
The Moldovan national has been missing from his accommodation in Dublin 6.
Fozia Seid Abdi (17), Missing date:12/05/2005
The Ethiopian national is missing from her address at North Circular Road, Dublin 7. At the time of her disappearance, she had sight in only one eye
Kovan Ali (18), Missing date: 23/03/2005
The Iranian national has been missing from his accommodation in Dublin 6.
Ali Swaleh (17), Missing date:18/03/2005
The Somalian national is missing from his accommodation at South Richmond St, Dublin 2.
Cabdi Cali (16), Missing date:19/01/2005
The Somalian national is missing from the Dublin 2 area since 19th January 2005.
2004
John Ogbeide (4), Missing date: 03/10/2004
The native of Sierra Leone went missing from his accommodation at Palmerstown, Dublin 20.
Michael Doyle (2), Missing date:13/07/2004
Also known as Michael Lyons, he was aged two years when he went missing from Tullow, Co. Carlow. At the time, information suggested that Michael that may have been in the UK, travelling in a dark coloured van.
Ion Spinu (17), Missing date: 27/01/2004
A native of Georgia, he went missing from his accommodation at Aunger Street, Dublin 2.
Pat Fauko (17), Missing date: 16/01/2004
Liberian who went missing from Terenure (subject of Interpol Yellow notice)
2003
Ademola Oluseun Adeyemi (17), Missing date:17/10/2003
The Nigerian native is missing from his accommodation from the Dublin 2 area.
Fernando Matua (17), Missing date: 16/04/03
From the Democratic Republic of Congo, he was last seen in Dublin (subject of Interpol Yellow notice)
2002
Lisa Nwole (16), Missing date:12/10/2002
Missing from her home at Tallaght, Dublin 24.
2001
Kokacel Nicaise Konan (13), Missing date: 01/08/2001
From the Ivory Coast, he was last seen in Dublin (subject of Interpol Yellow notice)
Adeniyi Aiyelabola (17)
Missing date:03/05/2001
The Nigerian native is missing from his accommodation in the Dublin 2 area.
1997
Ciara Breen (17), Missing date:13/02/1997
Missing from her home at Dundalk, Co. Louth.
1986
Philip Cairns (13), Missing date: 23/10/1986
Missing from his home in Rathfarnham, Dublin 14.
1984
Rory Aherne (almost 17), Missing date: 23/09/1984
Missing from his home at 17 Botanic Road, Drumcondra, Dublin 9.
1977
Mary Boyle (6), Missing date:18/03/1977
Missing from her grandmother's home at Ballyshannon, Co Donegal.
A Garda spokesman said that each investigation into the report of a missing person is individual to the specific circumstances of that investigation.
He said that decisions on whether to make additional appeals are a matter for the local superintendent who will make those operational decisions “based on the entirety of information and intelligence which may be available to them at the time”.
“Each missing person report recorded by An Garda Síochána on the Garda PULSE system will automatically result in a simultaneous SIS II Alert being created with equivalent data regarding that missing person," the Garda spokesman said.
"The Schengen Information System (SIS) is the most widely used and largest information-sharing system for security and border management in Europe. Where it is determined that a reported missing person may have left the jurisdiction, then a further course of action may be to engage with Interpol for the issuing of an Interpol Yellow Notice.”
He added: “Individuals who leave this jurisdiction, reported as missing persons, may not be updated on the PULSE system unless they come to the attention of a Law Enforcement agency in a 3rd country and formally be highlighted to An Garda Síochána as located."
Currently, there are 58 missing persons cases from Ireland that are the subject of Yellow Notices which are published on the Interpol database. They include eight children who are not listed on either the Garda Missing Persons website or Interpol’s missing children database.
Last year, Interpol issued 2,687 such notices from across the world, including one for an Albanian teenager who went missing from Dundalk, Co Louth, in August.
Cases where Yellow Notices are issued typically relate to victims of parental abductions, criminal abductions (kidnappings) or unexplained disappearances, according to Interpol.
The agency also said: “The Yellow Notice can also be used to help identify a person who is unable to identify himself or herself. This is a valuable law enforcement tool that can increase the chances of a missing person being located, particularly if there is a possibility that the person might travel, or be taken, abroad.”
When such a notice is issued, it is published by Interpol’s General Secretariat on its database, alerting police in all Interpol member countries.
