The still large numbers of migrant children remaining on Ireland’s missing persons lists are to be raised with the Government by the special rapporteur on racism. Dr Ebun Joseph is to cite research carried out last year by the Irish Examiner, which found more than 130 children and young people who have disappeared across Ireland since 1977 remain missing. While they include the well-known names of Kyran Durnin from Louth, Philip Cairns from Dublin, Ciara Breen from Louth, and Mary Boyle from Donegal, the majority of the missing children are migrants and have not become household names. The missing person reports stopped mentioning the nationality of the missing children in 2017. As special rapporteur for racial equality and racism, Ebun Joseph has recently read the research and said she was “in shock” when looking at the faces of the missing children.

Source: Irish Examiner March 17, 2026 08:00 UTC