A 17-year-old boy, Keane Mulready-Woods, was brutally murdered in a gang-related incident in Drogheda, Ireland, on January 12, 2020. His death shocked the nation, revealing the dark underbelly of drug-related violence that has plagued the area. Before his disappearance, Keane called his mother, Elizabeth Mulready-Woods, telling her he would be home late and requesting taxi money be left out for him. This final message has haunted his family ever since.
Keane became entangled in a local drug feud, which ultimately led to his tragic fate. According to reports from the Irish Independent, he had been working as a drug runner for a gang and was under strict instructions to return home before dark. At the time of his murder, he was on licence after being convicted of intimidating a mother over her child’s debts to the gang.
On that fateful night, Keane was lured to a house where he was tortured and subsequently decapitated. His dismembered limbs were discovered in a sports bag on a footpath, while his head, hands, and feet were later found in a burnt-out vehicle in Dublin. The grisly nature of the crime sent ripples of fear through the community and sparked a series of revenge attacks among rival gangs.
The primary suspect in Keane’s murder, Robbie Lawlor, had a notorious reputation, with a history of violent crimes. Authorities believe he escalated his initial plan for a “punishment beating” over a minor drug debt into a horrific act of torture and murder. Lawlor suspected Keane was involved in the death of his brother-in-law, Richie Carberry, and was determined to exact revenge.
In the wake of Keane’s murder, Lawlor himself was killed while trying to collect a drug debt. Reports from the Irish Sun indicate that insiders claimed Lawlor was “obsessed” with Keane, convinced that the teenager played a significant role in Carberry’s death. Lawlor’s history of violence included numerous murders and hundreds of criminal convictions, revealing a pattern of ruthless behavior.
The investigation led to the arrests of several individuals involved in Keane’s murder. In February 2023, local criminal Paul Crosby was sentenced to ten years in prison for his role, while his accomplice, Gerard “Rocky” Cruise, received a seven-year sentence. A third man, Gerard ‘Ged’ McKenna, admitted to disposing of evidence connected to the crime.
In a poignant victim impact statement, Elizabeth Mulready-Woods expressed her anguish, saying, “No one could imagine the darkness and sadistic evil in our country. I can hear him calling ‘Mam, Mam’ – and the haunting nightmares live forever with us.” She described the pain of losing her son in such a brutal manner, revealing that a part of her died with him.
Keane’s tragic story serves as a stark reminder of the impact of gang violence and the devastating consequences it has on families and communities. The ongoing issues related to drug crime in Ireland have led to calls for increased measures to combat this growing epidemic, as the scars from Keane’s murder continue to resonate throughout his community.
