Gardaí have completed their investigation and have submitted a file to the Director of Public Prosecutions in relation to their investigation into the discovery of the body of a five-day-old baby boy on a beach in Cahersiveen, Co Kerry, in April 1984.
The baby was subsequently named John.
A solicitor representing a couple who were arrested on suspicion of baby John's murder has called on the DPP to make a decision on whether charges should be brought in the case "sooner rather than later".
It is more than 40 years since the body of baby John was found in a fertiliser bag on White Strand in Cahersiveen, Co Kerry, in April 1984.
A post-mortem examination revealed the five-day-old baby had been stabbed multiple times.
The discovery of his body gave rise to what has become known as the Kerry Babies case. A deeply disturbing and controversial chapter in Irish history, it also give rise to Joanne Hayes being wrongly arrested and charged with baby John's murder.
In 2018, Joanne Hayes received a State apology and substantial damages.
At the same time, gardaí in Kerry - supported by detectives from the Serious Crime Review Team based in Dublin - began a cold case review of the baby John murder investigation.
Door-to-door enquiries were conducted in several parts of south Kerry and DNA samples were taken from dozens of people.
At all times, gardaí insisted that the answers to the questions posed by their investigation were to be found in Cahersiveen and the close surrounding area.
In March 2023, a woman in her 50s and a man in his 60s were arrested and questioned for 24 hours on suspicion of baby John's murder.
The couple's home in Kerry was also searched.
The garda investigation into the murder of baby John was completed several months ago, and detectives have submitted their file to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
RTÉ News understands the file recommends a range of charges that could be brought in the case.
It will be a matter for the DPP to decide if there is sufficient evidence to support charges being brought, or if charges would be in the public interest now - more than 40 years on.
Speaking to RTÉ News this afternoon, Killarney-based solicitor Padraig O'Connell, who represents the couple, called on the DPP to make a decision on the file "sooner rather than later".
"They are under a cloud - their lives are totally on hold," Mr O'Connell said.
