Daniel Aruebose murder: Gardaí contact seven countries in year-long investigation
Skeletal remains of toddler Daniel Aruebose were found near Donabate in September 2025. Gardaí have since liaised with US, Brazil, France, UK, Australia, Portugal and UAE.
Gardaí liaise with seven countries in Daniel Aruebose homicide probe
Investigators looking into the murder of toddler Daniel Aruebose have made contact with law enforcement agencies in seven jurisdictions outside Ireland, the Irish Times reports, as the case reaches the one-year anniversary of Tusla first raising concerns about the child.
Daniel's skeletal remains were discovered in September 2025 after Garda specialists conducted an extensive search of open ground near Donabate, north Co Dublin. He is believed to have been buried there for approximately four years. The child, who would now be eight years old, had lived at The Gallery Apartments in Donabate and is thought to have died at some point in 2021.
"Daniel was a happy, vibrant young boy and An Garda Síochána is determined to vindicate Daniel's human rights and remember him and his short life," the force said in a detailed update issued on Friday.
International reach of the investigation
The Garda investigation has extended well beyond Irish borders. According to the force's update, the investigation team has actively engaged with law enforcement authorities in the United States, Brazil, France and the United Kingdom, as well as the Australian Federal Police, the Portuguese Judicial Police, Interpol, and the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates.
The Irish Times understands that gardaí contacted US authorities in order to obtain information from technology companies about social media posts relevant to the case. Police in other countries were contacted regarding the movements of a person of interest, and at least one overseas police force received a request for financial records as part of the inquiry.
Co-ordination has also been maintained with the PSNI, the Director of Public Prosecutions, and the central channels for mutual legal assistance, the force said, describing the collaboration as "ongoing" across multiple domestic and international jurisdictions.
Scale of the domestic inquiry
This weekend marks one year since Tusla raised concerns about Daniel with An Garda Síochána on Friday, 29 August 2025. "At that time, it had been a number of years since there had been any confirmed sighting of Daniel," gardaí noted.
In the twelve months since, more than 800 tasks have been completed by Garda personnel. The investigation team has taken in excess of 400 statements and retained more than 100 physical exhibits along with nearly 300 documentary exhibits.
The inquiry is led by a senior investigating officer based out of an incident room at Swords Garda station, supported by Crime East DMR north Garda division, divisional search teams, scenes of crime units, and uniformed and community policing resources. National units including the Garda National Technical Bureau, the Garda Air Support Unit, the Garda Dog Unit, and the An Garda Síochána Analysis Service have all contributed to the investigation.
External specialists engaged include a forensic anthropologist, a forensic archaeologist, and specialist PSNI cadaver dogs.
A paediatric postmortem examination of Daniel's skeletal remains was completed at Dublin city mortuary. The results have not been released for operational reasons, gardaí said.
Background: welfare concerns and child protection
Concerns about Daniel's welfare first came to light following a spot-check on a child benefit claim made in his name. Enquiries by the Department of Social Protection last year established he had not been enrolled in school.
Daniel had spent time in foster care as an infant before being reunited with his birth parents under Tusla supervision. It is believed the agency closed his case file around the time of the Covid pandemic.
Two arrests made; extradition from Brazil
To date, two people have been arrested and detained in connection with Daniel's murder. One man was extradited to Ireland from Brazil as part of the investigation.
Gardaí have urged anyone who lived at The Gallery Apartments complex in Donabate at any point between July 2019 and the present to contact the investigation team if they have not already done so.
The force also cautioned the public against circulating unverified information. "An Garda Síochána is aware of the extensive public commentary that has circulated in relation to this investigation," the update read, adding that speculation, rumours, and theories "are not helpful to the investigation and do not assist An Garda Síochána in determining the facts of what happened to Daniel."
The public is urged to verify any content encountered on social media or messaging apps before sharing it.
Anyone with information can contact the investigation team at Swords Garda station on 01 666 4700, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any member of An Garda Síochána. All contact will be treated in the strictest confidence, a spokesman said.
Source: Irish Times