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LAST UPDATE | 17 Jan 2020
TAOISEACH LEO VARADKAR has said he will consider attending a public rally against violence in Drogheda next week if he’s available and if he’s invited.
Varadkar was speaking to LMFM this morning following the gruesome murder of 17-year-old Keane Mulready-Woods whose body was dismembered.
The murder is believed be connected to a local feud.
Varakar said this morning that “the nation is shocked by the depravity of the murder” and that he himself expressed his “revulsion and total condemnation” at the killing.
“I really want people to know the crime doesn’t pay, that those who are responsible for this will be brought to justice, and also to encourage anyone who does have information to give it to us because we need to secure convictions here,” he said.
The Mayor of Drogheda said yesterday that he will hold a rally in the town to allow people articulate how they feel about the ongoing feud and the killing of the teenager.
Asked would he attend the event, Varadkar said he couldn’t commit to attending but would consider it.
“I heard about that event happening, I don’t know if I’m available or not. But certainly if I’m invited to it and if I’m welcome there, I’ll give that consideration. I don’t even know if I’m in the country that day or not,” he said.
Pushed on the fact that he’s likely to be in the country during an election campaign, Varadkar said:
I’m still Taoiseach, so I do still have my responsibilities and obligations as Taoiseach. So I’m obviously trying to campaign around them but, you know, I certainly give it consideration.
Speaking about the wider issue of violence in the area, Varadkar said his constituency has also seen violence and that he understands the fear being felt by the people in Drogheda.
“I represent the constituency of Dublin West, it includes the Blanchardstown area, the Corduff area where we’ve had shootings as well and very serious criminal activity and gangs, and we take them on and we beat them,” Varadkar said.
I can totally understand how people Drogheda must feel at the moment, that people are afraid to go about their normal lives. Drogheda is actually great town you know, the biggest town in Ireland. Last time I was here was for the Fleadh which was a great success.
Varadkar said that he will speak to the local commissioner about policing levels in the area.
“No politician ever does or should decide how gardaí are deployed, that’s best done by the people who know how to do policing. And that’s the Garda Commissioner and his team. What I can pledge to do is that we will continue to increase resources for the gardaí, the budget and the number of gardaí,” he said.
Asked would he considering introducing further legislation aimed at tackling gangland activity, Varadkar said he’s open to doing so but that adequate laws are already in place to fight such crime.
“Gardaí have extensive powers under the existing law with the Special Criminal Court and these sorts of criminals can be brought to the Special Criminal Court,” he said.
And you know the crimes they’ve committed, you know, the crimes like murder, crimes like drug dealing, crimes like dismembering someone, these are already crimes. It’s not so much new laws that we need its evidence and police so we can get convictions.
DNA tests
Varadkar had said yesterday that he found the killing of the teenager “particularly shocking” and described it as “probably the most gruesome, grotesque murder” that that he could think of.
Remains were discovered in the Moatview area of Coolock on Monday evening and have been confirmed to be that of the teenager.
Further remains were found in a car that had been set alight in the Ballybough in Dublin on Wednesday morning. DNA results are due back on those remains today.
Gardaí are continuing to carry out forensic tests on a home in Rathmullen Park in Drogheda, which they believe might have been where the teenage victim’s dismembered body was brought.
The murder is believed be connected to a local feud and gardaí have said that many of the images and videos being shared online purporting to be of the victim do not show him after his death.
Varadkar and Minister for Justice Flanagan are expected to get an update on the investigation later this morning.
- With reporting by Christina Finn in Drogheda and Garreth MacNamee
In July 2018, a feud began between two gangs in Drogheda which has resulted in several shootings and deaths. Despite an increase in Garda resources, the violence has continued. This episode of The Explainer examines this issue:
The Explainer / SoundCloud
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Anyone who is available in Drogheda today, please go out and meet our Taoiseach in your town. Be vocal,, let the six one news headline tonight be Leo scrambling into his car as the people of his country shout their disapproval at him and his inept performance since he has got his job, crime rampant, hospital crisis, housing nightmare,, a nice little run up to his election……
@devils avacado: sorry, but I don’t think that’s the right thing to do during this tragedy!!
@Denise McGowan: while I understand your point, these gangs seem to operate with impunity, shooting each other in hotels in broad daylight comes to mind.
Time the Garda got tough or more tragedies like this will happen. Needs to be addressed at government level.
@Denise McGowan: you might be right,, they should probably leave it till the next time he plans to go to crime ridden town that Drogheda seems to have become…..
@Denise McGowan: why?
@Denise McGowan: it’s the perfect time to do it
@Euro McPúnty: since it appears that those involved are well known in the area, the better course of action is for those with information to give it to the Gardai. Stunts like this suggestion won’t bring anyone to justice.
@milton friedman: what do you mean by ‘time the Gardai got tough’? I’ve heard this phrase used plenty of times but nobody seems to elaborate.
@devils avacado: If convicted criminals with 50 to 100 convictions were kept behind bars for longer periods of time instead of being given suspended or a gentle slap on the wrist sentences, they would not be out on the streets as much in order to commit more murders and to terrorise the citizens of this country.
@devils avacado: Drogheda is battling with a reputation at the moment and the last thing they need is to show a hostile reaction to an invited guest.
@Pat O Brien: Would probably mean a heavy handed approach to dealing with this s(um. Fight fire with fire and squeeze the life from them. Confiscate everything they have, even the clothes off their backs. And when I say ‘they’, gards know every last one of them.
@Daniel Kevin Sullivan: “ stunts like this suggestion”?? For years the people and Garda of Drogheda have been saying that the town is rampant with crime and it is a boiling pot that is going to spill over,, the barbaric murder of a child this week has highlighted what many people have known for years, the people of Drogheda need help, the town they have grown up in/moved into is in the headlines for all the wrong reasons, thugs are running the show with zero fear of the law. The people should take to the streets today if Leo is in town, and show their support for that boys loved ones by letting the Taoiseach know what is happening is unacceptable, enough is enough, the people need to get out and use the media presence today to tell our leaders that they want their town back….
@Rochelle: nonsense.
@Michael Lynch: I’m sure the gardai do know who’s who. But I still don’t know what ‘getting tough’ and ‘heavy handed’ mean. I’m asking a genuine question. Where I’m coming from is I take it nobody wants the Gardai to go outside the law, which I don’t want them to, but in that context, what do people mean by the above two phrases?
@George Vladisavljevic: how about ‘more than one’ conviction…?
@Pat O Brien: while I know it is a platitude but in its simplest form, you assess what resources and intelligence the Garda have, and then you strategize how to improve results i.e. convictions, confiscation of fire arms and drugs.
Basically make it so these gangs can’t operate.
@Shane McGrath:
The law profession wouldn’t allow it. The revolving door system keeps up employment and assures wages for the sector.
@Pat O Brien: i think many people vent their frustration with out outdated criminal justice system with the sentiment ‘time for garda to get tough’ – -its just people sick of the soft touch , suspended sentences , lack of new prisons , oitdated garda tech ( pulse is not fit for purpose ) – not enough visible garda etc etc – its just a way people vent a complex area – whatever party gets SERIOUS about building more prisons and making a tougher concerted overhaul in criminal justice – not just false promises – the people would welcome that.
@devils avacado: It sounds like you don’t give a damn about Drogheda and you’re just another Dub wanting to use a crisis away from your own doorstep as a political opportunity.
@Dave Hammond: I agree with you on both your points.
@milton friedman: but it is my understanding that all of this is being done. Hence my question.
@Rochelle: yes, ok, that’s fine Rochelle,, whatever you say, spout as much nonsense as you like. It doesn’t make it true thou….
@Denise McGowan: sorry but what happened is not a tragedy. The boy was involved in gangs and has probably done awful things to innocent people. It’s sad that he got involved with the wrong people but he would have grown up to be a very dangerous man I’m having trouble having any sympathy for him
@jason traynor: protesting at Leinster house might be more appropriate. Not where a young guy has been murdered.
@D: it’s a tragedy that his family are grieving through. He we only 17
@Pat O Brien: I imagine Gardai will say the resources are not there to do it sufficiently, so there is one way to address the issue.
I’m calling for action from those in charge, who are paid to make these decisions, I do not have all the answers.
Where was he for all the other murdered? Easily know election season is in full swing.
@Craig Clancy: All those other 17yr olds chopped up? This is one of the most vicious and disgusting murders this country has seen so it is right imo that he is showing his face there.
@Sal Paradise: another leo supporter.
Taoiseach shocked by drug dealers death…..wow
Suit him far better to visit the local hospital and see first hand how under staffed the hospital is
@John Joe Bridie: he knows. He is an MD and his partner practices.
I wonder will he say.. “but he was known to Gardai” and shrug his shoulders in the same way he said about the homeless guy injured in the tent being known to authorities
@Hughie Lynch: he will also bring up fg’s brilliant success on tackling crime and how fg are working on new measures to tackle crime then he will try and slate ff and sf while thinking quietly to himself “these fools will believe anything i say, i hope my socks look good in this”
@Hughie Lynch: are we supposed to feel sympathy for a lad that firebombed people’s homes and attacked known murderers on the streets and got his comeuppance?
“will consider” chances are probable that he won’t. Leo is not one to mingle with us common people.
Taoiseach travels to Drogheda as DNA results due on remains. Is Leo a suspect?
Leo standing hopelessly by a stable door as a horse gallops past him again.
This is truly tragic but it’s interesting how criminals always seem to get the most attention from politicians. Why is that?
@Morning Gus: because unlike for example the homeless guy where they can deflect blame to another party or person and quickly move on, they can talk about criminals all they want, because he doesn’t think he is to blame and plays on the notion that we as a society don’t care what criminals do to each other, which is I suppose is largely true.
I’m still Taoiseach, so I do still have my responsibilities and obligations as Taoiseach. So I’m obviously trying to campaign around them but, you know, I certainly give it consideration.
Leo’s biggest responsibility and obligation is to protect the citizens of this country,all other issues pale after that.
@Fabio Dillon: I think you’re doing a disservice to the people of Drogheda, the majority of whom want nothing to do with this feud. Far more people are killed in other parts of the country, yet you’re happy to jump upon a media fueled bandwagon. This is the biggest town in the country, maybe if it hadn’t been so neglected by successive governments and had some investment they wouldn’t have such problems. They have a sitting FG TD for many years, with little to show for it.
These people couldn’t give a f___ if every town in Ireland held a rally , action is what’s needed by the government , guards and especially the judicial system .
This country is decending fast into complete lawlessness every day now we have a murder or a serious assault it’s that common now it doesn’t even make the news .
The next government should stop bowing to this racist card and call it as it is , it’s about time we starting deporting people who commit crimes in this country and give proper sentences to our own all ot our own .
Leo’s pledge to put killers behind bars …… forgive me for being cynical , but put that in the intray leo with your USC, Hopistal crisis and homeless crisis pledges!!
Just another soundbite from you, in the Tragedy thats going on .
He’s only making use of the event for his own gain. A PR stunt to win the hearts of the people or so he hope. He has never and will never give a $hite about common people.
Leo’s pledge to put killers behind bars …… forgive me for being cynical , but put that in the intray leo with your USC, Hopistal crisis and homeless crisis pledges!!
Just another soundbite from you, in the Tragedy thats going on .
Good God, does this man’s arrogance have no bounds? Much better for the Drogheda march if he doesn’t attend-his clear lack of understanding would mean he’d have the gall to use it for canvassing.
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