The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Kerry Babies Cold Case One year on: No damages No justice No answers
EXACTLY a year after Gardaí and the State apologised to Joanne Hayes and her family for their treatment during the 1984 ‘Kerry Babies’ investigation, the Government still hasn’t agreed a compensation package for Ms Hayes.
On January 16, 2018, Killarney Garda Superintendent Flor Murphy chaired an unprecedented press conference at Cahersiveen Garda Station.
He apologised to Joanne Hayes and revealed new DNA evidence that proved she played no part whatsoever in the death of ‘Baby John’, the discovery of whose remains at White Strand near Cahersiveen sparked the ‘Kerry Babies’ saga.
Sensationally, Supt Murphy also announced that the notorious case of the infant’s murder was to be re-opened.
Since then, a team of nine gardaí, all working full-time on the case, have interviewed “hundreds” of people; taken fresh DNA samples from a number of people running into “double digits” and followed over 300, new and old, lines of inquiry.
The murder probe remains focussed on southern Iveragh but the investigation has taken gardaí outside the county and the country. Gardaí have liaised with various international police forces as they try to crack the almost 35-year-old mystery.
So far, the renewed investigation – which has prompted significant local anger – has led to no arrests and provided no new answers about the identity of ‘Baby John’ or his killer.
This week Supt Murphy told The Kerryman that Gardaí won’t give up until they finally solve the baby’s murder. “A five-day old baby was murdered,” Supt Murphy said. “We want to solve an unsolved murder. Significant resources have been deployed and this will continue.”
Despite Government pledges that Joanne Hayes would be compensated for the anguish she and her family endured during the murder investigation and the subsequent tribunal, there is still no agreement on damages.
12 months after the Taoiseach apologised to Joanne Hayes on behalf of the State, sources close to the compensation talks say discussions are still ongoing, with no end in sight.
Meanwhile, The Department of Justice maintain that they and Minister of Justice Charlie Flanagan are doing all they can to settle the matter “as expeditiously, compassionately and sensitively as possible”.
NINE gardaí are working fulltime on the Kerry Babies cold case investigation into the murder of ‘Baby John’.
12 months after the re-opening of the 34-year old cold case gardaí in Kerry are still very much focused on the case and will continue for long as necessary, Superintendent Flor Murphy confirmed this week.
In the past year Gardaí have interviewed “hundreds” of people and over 300 lines of enquiry, both new and old, are being followed.
Supt Murphy would not give specifics on how many DNA samples have been taken but said they are in “double digits”.
“There is ongoing selective sampling,” Superintendent Flor Murphy said. At the time of the relaunch of the investigation gardaí said DNA would be key to their investigation.
Superintendent Murphy said that “plenty of new lines of enquiry” have opened in the last 12 months and that these are being followed thoroughly.
This includes investigations in Valentia where questionnaires were distributed last September during an intensive trawl of the island.
“If a certain line of enquiry takes us a certain place that is where we will go,” said Superintendent Murphy.
“Valentia inquiries are ongoing and there are follow-up inquiries. Gardaí are working on that and finalising that,” he said.
Superintendent Murphy also confirmed that gardaí in Kerry are liaising with “international police forces” in relation to the ongoing investigation which has taken gardaí outside the county and the country.
The team working on the Kerry Babies includes at least six Kerry gardaí who are investigating the case full time along with members of the Serious Review Team who travel to Kerry on a regular basis to work on the ongoing investigation
This week Superintendent Murphy once again appealed for the mother of Baby John to come forward and contact them and for anyone with information on the case.
“There are people out there with information. I am convinced that there are people who can help us,” he said.
“A five-day old baby was murdered and that is being pursued.”
He said that the investigation will continue this year.
“We want to solve an unsolved murder. Significant resources have been deployed and this will continue.”
IF A CERTAIN LINE OF ENQUIRY TAKES US TO A CERTAIN PLACE THAT’S WHERE WE WILL GO