Chances of finding even distant relative now 400 times better

GARDAÍ are hopeful that the world-renowned UK DNA database could hold the key to unravelling the Kerry Baby mystery.

One theory now being considered by detectives is that the movement of people between Kerry and Northern Ireland could hold vital clues as to the identity of Baby John.

Detectives now have a full DNA profile of Baby John, whose stabbed and broken body was discovered on White Strand in Cahersiveen on April 14, 1984.

The analysis was conducted late last year on a tissue sample which was kept carefully on file following his post-mortem examination in 1984.

While cross-references of the small, but expanding Irish DNA database have so far failed to yield any matches to Baby John’s mother or father, Garda access to the vastly larger UK DNA database could be critical.

Put simply, the UK database is 400 times bigger than that in Ireland.

The UK database of six million DNA samples is one of the largest in the world.

Better still, the search and cross-referencing systems for that database are so advanced that even if a far distant relative to a person is on file, it will trigger an alert for researchers.

Gardaí are acutely aware of the close linkages between Ireland, Northern Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales. Few families don’t have relatives in one of those areas.

“It is probably misleading to say that a search of the UK database is solely for a direct match to Baby John’s mother or father,” one forensic source explained.

“That may well happen, but it would be like finding the needle in the haystack for gardaí.

“Far more likely from a Garda point of view is the possibility that a potential relative, either close or distant, to one of Baby John’s parents might be found on file.”

Critically, that would give detectives a specific area on which to focus their renewed investigation – tracing

individuals who were in the Kerry area in 1983 and 1984 and who, because of their relative’s DNA hint, may have a potential link to the Cahersiveen baby.

However, the DNA search isn’t the only element of the new investigation.

Gardaí are working to trace individuals who were in the greater Cahersiveen area around the time that Baby John was born.

Particular emphasis is being placed on women who were known to have been pregnant at the time.

Baby John was estimated to be five days old when he was killed and had only been on White Strand a short time.

Gardaí are also referencing medical and social welfare records from the period.

The trawl isn’t being restricted to Cahersiveen – local towns and villages from Kenmare to Killorglin and Waterville are also being considered for potential leads.

Supt Flor Murphy, who is leading the investigation, vowed that no stone will be left unturned. “It’s never the wrong time to do the right thing,” he said.

“It just had to be done. We have a duty to investigate this. There’s an infant stabbed to death – we just can’t let that happen.”