Baby John was killed in 1984 and Gardaí still don’t know who is responsible.
A relative of the late Baby John reportedly handed over DNA evidence to Gardaí.
According to The Independent, Gardaí believe the person is a sibling of the late infant.
The DNA was taken from the sibling who was born after the baby died in 1984.
The news comes after a couple was arrested in connection with Baby John’s death.
They were both released without charge, but Gardaí are awaiting DNA test results.
Gardaí issued a statement following the release of both the man and woman.
The woman was released on March 24th, and the man was then released on March 26th.
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“Early this morning, Saturday 26th March 2023, 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.
Gardaí added, “A file will be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.”
What happened to Baby John?
On April 14th, 1984, the body of a newborn baby boy, later named John, was found on White Strand in Cahersiveen. The infant had been stabbed several times.
The body of another baby was discovered on a farm in Abbeydorney, North Kerry.
Joanne Hayes was arrested and charged with the murder of Baby John. However, Hayes later retracted her confession. She confirmed that her own baby died shortly after birth. This was the baby who was found on the farm in Abbeydorney.
Hayes said that she had had her baby wrapped in plastic and buried on the farm in secret. The baby from the farm matched Hayes’s blood type, but baby John from the beach did not.
The treatment of Joanne Hayes was highly criticised and led to a tribunal of inquiry.
The Irish State apologised to Joanne Hayes in 2020 for wrongly accusing her of the murder and for the “appalling hurt and distress caused.”
All charges against Hayes and her family were eventually dropped by the Director of Public Prosecutions.
