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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
National
Darragh Murphy & Michael O'Toole

Man arrested in Kerry Babies probe released without charge as file prepared for DPP

The man arrested in connection with the ongoing Baby John investigation was released without charge this morning, having been questioned on suspicion of murdering him by Gardai.

Gardai confirmed this morning that the male, aged in his 60s, was released from Listowel Garda Station approximately 12 hours after a woman, who was also arrested in relation to the probe, was allowed to walk free from Castleisland Garda Station in Co Kerry while a file is to be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Sources have confirmed to The Irish Mirror that Gardai are investigating whether DNA could establish who Baby John's mother is.

READ MORE - Woman arrested in Kerry Babies probe walks free after being quizzed on suspicion of murder

A Garda spokesperson confirmed this morning: "Early this morning, Saturday 26th March 2023 (sic), the male in his 60s, arrested in relation to the discovery of the body of a male infant at White Strand, Caherciveen, County Kerry on 14 April, 1984 was released without charge.

"The investigation into the death of Baby John is continuing. A file will be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.

"An Garda Síochána has no further comment at this time."

(SM-IR Irish Pictures )

The pair were both arrested at the same approximate time in Kerry on Thursday evening, with Gardai allowed to question the woman until 7pm last night before releasing her, while they had until early Saturday to keep quizzing the man.

Baby John – a five-day-old baby - was stabbed to death in rural Kerry before being dumped on a beach in Caherciveen in April 1984.

Detectives probing the stabbing murder are now expected to prepare a file for the Director of Public Prosecutions on the case – who will then decide if both or either of the suspects should be charged.

The arrests came almost two years after Gardai exhumed the body of little Baby John – who was murdered in early 1984.

The baby’s body had 28 stab wounds when it was found on the rocks at White Strand near Caherciveen in April of that year.

The baby was murdered just five days after he was born and the Garda probe into his death and that of another baby around the same time caused a public outcry – and the creation of a special tribunal of inquiry.

The baby’s mother and killer have never been identified but the Garda case has always remained open – even though the events happened almost 40 years ago.

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