Teen's murder 'one of the most horrifying' in Irish history, mother tells court

At the Special Criminal Court in Dublin on 23 January 2023, two men pleaded guilty to facilitating the murder of 17-year-old Keane Mulready-Woods at Rathmullan Park, Drogheda, in January 2020. Gerard Cruise, aged 49, and Paul Crosby, aged 27, both of Rathmullan Park, admitted the offence under Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006. The teenager disappeared on 12 January 2020; his remains were discovered over subsequent months in multiple locations including Dublin and Donegal. The victim's mother told the court she wished to hear her son say "I love you mam" once more and described his death as amongst the most brutal in Irish history. Detective Inspector Aidan McCabe outlined evidence linking the murder to a criminal gang feud in Drogheda. The chief suspect, Robert Lawlor, was shot dead in Belfast in April 2020. Mr Justice Tony Hunt adjourned sentencing to 13 February.