Human remains found in sports bag identified as missing teen Keane Mulready-Woods

16 January 2020, 08:01

A teenager whose remains were found in a sports bag in Dublin has been named by police as Keane Mulready-Woods, 17.

Gardai have vowed to bring to justice those behind the “brutal and savage attack” after part of the missing boy’s body was discovered in Coolook, north Dublin, on Monday.

Further remains were found in a burnt-out car in Drumcondra on Wednesday.

Garda Deputy Commissioner John Twomey said: "An Garda Siochana is determined to bring those behind this shocking crime to justice.

"In recent years An Garda Siochana 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."

A Garda statement on Wednesday said that Forensic Science Ireland had confirmed that partial human remains discovered in Coolock on January 13 are those of Keane Mulready-Woods.

"Keane is a 17-year-old juvenile, he disappeared on Sunday January 12 and parts of his remains have now been discovered," the statement said.

"This 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."

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar also condemned the murder.

He said: "I want to assure the public and the people of Drogheda that Gardai will have all the resources they need.

"They need to find the people who carried out this crime and make sure that they are brought to justice.

"I want to reassure the people of Drogheda in particular that we stand right behind them and I plan to get there in the next couple of days because the whole country is really shocked by this.

"It is probably the most gruesome, grotesque murder that I can think of - to have it perpetrated against a 17-year old is just particularly shocking to me.

"We're going to make sure that Gardai in Coolock and Drogheda are given resources, find out who did this and bring the perpetrators to justice."

Detectives have issued an appeal for information about the teenager's last known movements.

"Keane was last seen in Drogheda by his family at approximately 6pm on the evening of Sunday January 12.

"At this time Keane 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.

"At approximately 9.55pm on Monday January 13 Gardai responded to a 999 call 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 approximately 1.30am Wednesday January 15 Gardai 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 on January 14, one search location remains ongoing at present.

"Incident rooms have been established at Drogheda, Coolock and Mountjoy Garda Station with the investigation being co-ordinated from Drogheda Garda Station."