Kerry Babies investigation ongoing as Gardaí begin door-to-door inquiries

The Kerry Babies investigation is continuing as Gardaí begin door-to-door inquiries.

The inquiries are taking place today on Valentina Island in a bid to acquire more information about the cold case. On 14 April 1984, the body of a newborn baby boy, later named John, washed up on White Strand in Cahersiveen. The infant had been stabbed several times. RTE reports that some time later, the body of another baby was discovered on a farm in Abbeydorney, North Kerry. Local woman Joanne Hayes, known to be pregnant at the time, was charged with the murder of baby John in May 1984 and four of her family members were charged with concealment of birth. She confessed to the killing of the baby, later retracting her confession saying that her newborn had died shortly after birth. 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 Kerry Babies Tribunal was later critical of the Gardaí's investigation. It also suggested that Hayes had participated in her baby's death, which she denied. All charges against Hayes and her family were eventually dropped by the Director of Public Prosecutions. The parents and killer of baby John have never been found. Door-to-door inquiries into the cold case begin today. Feature image via RTE Late Late Show.