'Brutal attack on a child': Gardaí confirm remains found in Dublin are those of missing Louth teenager
Gardaí have confirmed that remains found in Dublin are those of 17-year-old Keane Mulready-Woods, who was missing from his home in Co Louth.
Gardaí recovered human remains, believed to be a decapitated head, in a burnt-out car found overnight. It followed the discovery of four limbs in a sports bag that was dumped on a footpath in a north Dublin suburb on Monday night.
At a press briefing in Drogheda tonight, Garda Chief Superintendent Christy Mangan, Louth said: “it is an absolutely horrific murder of a child.”
Amid concern that the murder was part of the ongoing feud between criminal gangs in Drogheda, he said: “We have a number of lines of inquiry that we are investigating, we haven’t come down on one definitive line.”
When it was put to him the concern is that this was an extreme escalation in violence associated with the feuding gangs, he said: “it certainly is an escalation in violence, but unfortunately we have been dealing with an unacceptable level of violence in Drogheda and surrounding areas.”
“But we have had a considerable number of arrests and seizures of drugs, firearms in relation to the two sides who are involved in the criminal dispute. Unfortunately the persons involved are intent on inflicting maximum damage on each other at this point.”
He said that since Keane was reported missing, “we have been carrying out a very very extensive investigation in relation to what exactly happened to him.”
“Unfortunately we have come to the juncture where we are conducting a murder investigation at Drogheda Garda Station. What I can reassure the public is we have a very very extensive investigation in place at the moment in relation to the murder.”
He appealed to the public to work with the Gardaí, saying: “We are there to protect the public, we are there to serve the public but there are a number of interested groups who are basically interested in controlling parts of society through cocaine, they want to finance their own lifestyles through drugs and intimidation.”
“We are not going to allow that to happen. We are there to protect the people in Drogheda, to protect the people in society and we certainly will do so in a very robust fashion, I can tell you that.”
He said it is “a brutal and savage attack on a child and is completely unacceptable in any normal democratic society. The level of violence is shocking and the investigation into the murder of Keane is being co-ordinated from Drogheda Garda Station.”
It is important to remember that Keane was a child, a young boy, trying to find his way in life...He has now lost his life and his family have lost their loved son and brother.
Speaking this evening, Deputy Commissioner, Policing and Security, John Twomey said: "An Garda Síochána is determined to bring those behind this shocking crime to justice.
"In recent years An Garda Síochána has made significant progress in tackling organised crime through arrests leading to convictions and major seizures of guns, drugs and cash.
"This focus will continue. As always, the help and support of communities is vital to this."
The murder investigation is being coordinated from Drogheda garda station.
The investigation so far
Keane Mulready-Woods was last seen in Drogheda by his family at about 6pm last Sunday. He was wearing a Navy Hugo Boss Tracksuit, Black Hugo Boss Runners (brown sole, black laces), Red / Orange Canada Goose Jacket and a Gucci Baseball Cap.
Gardaí responded to a 999 call at 9.55pm last Monfay that a bag containing human remains had been found at Moatview Drive, Priorswood, Dublin 17. A black Puma sports bag was recovered which contained partial human remains.
At about 1.30am today, gardaí responded to a call from Dublin Fire Brigade stating that there was a vehicle on fire at Trinity Terrace, Dublin 3. Further partial human remains were recovered from this vehicle.
A number of searches have been conducted in the Drogheda area. One search location remains ongoing.
Incident rooms have been established at Drogheda, Coolock and Mountjoy garda stations with the investigation being co-ordinated from Drogheda garda station. A family liaison officer remains in close contact with Keane's family.
- Information from anyone who has knowledge of Keane's movements from when he was last seen on Sunday, January 12 at about 6pm near Dominic’s Bridge, Drogheda.
- Information or dashcam footage from anyone in the Moatview Drive, Moatview Gardens, Dublin 17 area on Monday, January 13 from 9pm – 10pm
- Information on the movements of a blue Volvo S40 bearing false registration plates 141 MO 1925 which was abandoned and set on fire in the Trinity Terrace, Dublin 3 area on Wednesday morning at about 1.30am.
- Information on the whereabouts of a blue Volvo S40, 161 D 48646, which was the subject of an unauthorised taking from Sandymount on December 15, 2019.
- Information on the clothing Keane was wearing at the time he went missing.
Any person with information can contact Gardaí at Drogheda Garda Station on 041 9874200, the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111, Crime Stoppers 1800 250 025 or any Garda station.
