Drug and gang violence an election priority- Bishop

 

 

Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Armagh Bishop Michael Router has called for an end to the Drogheda feud. The Cavan-native also stated that gang and drug violence in all communities across the country needs to be made a “genuine priority” for the next government to tackle.

An Garda Síochána investigating the death of the feud's latest apparent victim confirmed the partial human remains discovered in Dublin on Monday, January 13, were in fact those of missing teenager Keane Mulready-Woods.

He had been last seen in Drogheda by his family at approximately 6pm on Sunday, January 12, before the gruesome discovery of body parts in a black 'Puma' sports bag dumped near an estate in Coolock the following evening.

 

 

Bishop Router said the incident had “shocked people to their very core”

He noted that while all human life is “sacred”, an attack of this nature on someone who was still a child is “disgusting and beyond belief”.

“To murder another human being in such a way is to totally disregard the basic tenets of our Christian faith and is, indeed, an attack on God in whose image we are all made. This desecration of life has diminished our common humanity and our sense of ourselves as a civilised people.”

The violent feud in Drogheda had, prior to Mr Mulready-Woods' disappearance, already claimed two lives during the past 12 months.

“There are people living amongst us with blood on their hands,” continued the Bishop. “We all have a responsibility to assist the Gardaí to apprehend, not just the perpetrators of this evil, but the gang leaders who orchestrated it.”

“Enough is enough,” the Bishop stated, describing as “reprehensible” the sub-culture in society which he feels views all human life as simply “expendable”, including the lives of children, and that these people “must be defeated”.

He stated too the issue of gang and drug violence needs to be “seriously addressed” in all communities, not just in Drogheda and Dublin, during the current general election campaign,and that it must also be considered a “genuine priority” for the next government to tackle.

“Such gangs are grooming children and we need now to take back control so that such vulnerable children can be cherished, not exploited. I earnestly hope that all the community-based organisations who fight against the scourge of drug abuse in our country will receive the resources that they need to be effective.”

Bishop Router, who was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Armagh last year, and for whom this is his second such statement addressing the violent feud and killings, concluded by saying: “By way of prayer and action we all have a role to play in maintaining the common good. I reiterate my offer to liaise between those who are feuding. From the bottom of my heart, I ask individuals and communities to stand together and cooperate with Gardaí in every way possible to help permanently bring to an end this cycle of bloody violence in our community.”

 

Garda Response

Gardai meanwhile issued their own statement on the disappearance and murder of Mr Mulready-Woods.

As a result a number of searches were conducted in the Drogheda area on January 14.

Incident rooms have been established at Drogheda, Coolock and Mountjoy Garda Station with the investigation being co-ordinated from Drogheda Garda Stations. Garda Commissioner Drew Harris also visited and assured the investigation teams of the full support of the Garda Organisation in this investigation.

A family liaison officer remains in close contact with the young man's family, and are investigating also reports of images and videos circulating on social messaging apps.

"These images are unverified at this time," but are nonetheless "distressing to Keane’s family", and if verified are "disrespectful images of the deceased and provide false support to the perpetrators of this brutal crime."

Gardaí are asking people not to share this material.

A Garda spokesperson said of the murder: “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.”

 

Investigating Gardaí are making the following appeals:
• Information from anyone who has knowledge of Keane's movements from when he was last seen on Sunday 12th January 2020 at approximately 6pm in the vicinity of Dominic’s Bridge, Drogheda.
• Information or dashcam footage from anyone in the Moatview Drive, Moatview Gardens, Dublin 17 area on Monday 13th January 2020 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 the morning of Wednesday 15th January at approximately 1.30am.
• Information on the whereabouts of a blue Volvo S40, 161 D 48646, which was the subject of an unauthorised taking from Sandymount, Co. Dublin on 15th December 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.