Remains of baby found dead on Kerry beach in 1984 exhumed by garda

The remains of a baby boy discovered dead on a beach in Kerry in 1984 have been exhumed by gardaí as part of an ongoing investigation.

“Baby John” was found on White Strand beach in Cahersiveen with a number of stab wounds. Gardai have said they believe there are still members of the public with important information regarding the death.

On Tuesday morning his remains were exhumed from Holy Cross Cemetery in Cahersiveen and taken to the morgue at University Hospital Kerry, Tralee for examination.

“The exhumation commenced at first light and was conducted on foot of a ministerial order granted in accordance with the Coroners Act 1962 as amended,” gardaí said in a statement.

The exhumation was assisted by the Garda Technical Bureau, a forensic anthropologist and relevant personnel from Kerry County Council and the Health Service Executive (HSE).

The Coroner for South Kerry was also informed of the situation and later on Tuesday the remains were re-interred.

“Investigating gardaí continue to believe that there are members of the public who have information in relation to the death of Baby John in April 1984 and we are appealing to those people to come forward and help us,” the statement said.

A full murder inquiry into the discovery of the baby was opened at the beginning of 2018.

Joanne Hayes, who had been wrongly accused of the murder, later received an apology for the investigation which has since been deemed to have fallen short of acceptable Garda standards.

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