Mother of ‘Baby John’ urged to come forward by Gardaí

They believe family are still out there.

Gardaí in Kerry are continuing their investigation of the murder of a baby boy in 1984, and are appealing for his mother to come forward. Known as Baby John, the newborn was found at White Strand beach in Cahersiveen on 14 April 1984. Suffering multiple stab wounds, his remains were exhumed yesterday to further examine the circumstances surrounding his death. Gardaí are now urging for the mother to come forward, believing there is someone in Kerry with information about the incident. "We want to deliver justice for a five-day-old baby whose very, very brief life was cut short," Superintendent Flor Murphy told Radio Kerry. "The operation yesterday demonstrates our total commitment to deliver justice for Baby John and to find answers to those questions that have been around for 37 years. "We believe she has suffered loss and pain, and hurt, and grief, and I am appealing to her to come forward. She will be dealt with compassion and we understand the pain she has endured over the past 37 years." The remains were exhumed from Holy Cross Cemetery, Cahersiveen, Co Kerry at around 10am yesterday and brought to the morgue at University Hospital Kerry in Tralee for further examination. Approaching the case with respect and sensitivity, Murphy added that he believes there are still people close "to those tragic events" out there. The renewed investigation has seen hundreds of different lines of inquiry and has had the support of the Serious Crime Unit in Dublin. "Yesterday's step was important to resolve the sad events of 37 years ago and try and bring closure to these events," he added. The original investigation into this tragedy led to the discovery of a second baby's body on a farm in Abbeydorney outside Tralee in Co Kerry and a Tribunal of Inquiry was held in 1985 into the Gardaí's handling of the case. Gardaí questioned Joanne Hayes about Baby John, and she was adamant she was not the mother, which the Tribunal later found to be true. A 2018 DNA sample also confirmed it.