Confidential State documents reveal horrific killing of Ukrainian boy in underage care facility sparked overhaul of migrant age-checks following shocking Tusla report that almost 300 asylum seekers claiming to be children were in fact adults

Published: 14:53, 7 May 2026 | Updated: 14:56, 7 May 2026 The Government is developing a new system for assessing the age of people who enter the State presenting as unaccompanied minors, confidential documents reveal. The development comes as an inquest began last week into the fatal stabbing of an underage migrant in a care facility for minors last year, allegedly by someone now understood to be an adult.  The news follows Tusla's report to an Oireachtas committee that in the past four years, almost 300 unaccompanied asylum seekers who claimed to be children were subsequently found to be adults. The Child and Family Agency said that of 2,500 referrals it received from immigration officials who believed the person was under 18 and unaccompanied between 2022 and 2025, some 293 were 'deemed ineligible' and sent back to the International Protection Office (IPO).  Last week the inquest started into the killing of 17-year-old Ukrainian boy Vadym Davydenko, who was stabbed to death in a north Dublin care facility for minors in October 2025, allegedly by someone now understood to be an adult.  The accused, a Somali male, originally told a court hearing his documents were false, but at a later hearing, he told the court: ‘My age is 17.’  Last week the inquest started into the killing of 17-year-old Ukrainian boy Vadym Davydenko, who was stabbed to death in a North Dublin care facility for minors in October 2025 Members of the Garda Technical Bureau continue their investigations at an apartment in the Grattan Wood complex in Donaghmede, Dublin, where teen Vadym Davydenko was stabbed The body of tragic teen Vadym Davydenko is moved from the scene of his alleged stabbing The victim and accused were residents in a ‘special emergency arrangement’ (SEA) – one of the privately run overflow facilities contracted by the State child and family agency Tusla. The agency came under fire after an RTÉ documentary exposed a chaotic system which leaves children vulnerable to exploitation. At present, someone who is seeking international protection as a minor but is unable to prove their age is assessed by Tusla.  A Tusla source noted this is done as an age assessment, adding ‘it would be an interview’.  According to internal documents, the Department of Justice is now in ‘ongoing engagement with Tusla to develop the new procedures’.  Asked for more detail on the age assessment plan, the Department of Justice spokeswoman said: ‘The assessment will be multidisciplinary, carried out by trained professionals, and use the least invasive methods available.  'This process is currently being designed and Tusla are represented on the working group carrying out this design work.’ Items on age assessment are included in the new International Protection Bill 2026, which gives effect to the measures of the EU Migration and Asylum Pact and was signed into law here this week. The question of who is responsible for age assessing unaccompanied minors has been the subject of controversy in recent months.  In a Public Accounts Committee hearing last October, Department of Justice officials insisted it was the responsibility of Tusla. The department later clarified the International Protection Office (IPO) is ultimately responsible, though in practice it is left to Tusla. Fine Gael TD James Geoghegan said age assessment should not be left to Tusla.  Fine Gael TD James Geoghegan said age assessment should not be left to Tusla, but should be the responsilbilty of the IPO and Department of Justice The scene outside the International Protection Office in May 2024, where hundreds of migrants in search of accommodation had been sleeping on the streets until gardaí removed them He told the MoS: ‘This should be the responsibility of the IPO and the Department of Justice... Tusla should be left with the responsibility of looking after the most vulnerable children in our country.’ Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín told the MoS: ‘The Government have been absolutely shockingly lax on identifying the ages of individuals who are claiming to be children. 'And that has been a significant threat to the welfare of actual children who are in residential care in the State system.’ Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.