Courts / Louth / Report

Father-of-eight handed over house for 'gruesome' Kean Mulready Woods murder

Date
2022-02-28

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Drogheda

County
Louth

Summary

Gerard McKenna, aged 52, of Rathmullen Park in Drogheda, County Louth, was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court following his guilty plea in November to obstructing the investigation into the murder of 17-year-old Kean Mulready Woods. The court heard that McKenna cleaned and painted his house and removed evidence after the teenager was killed there between 12 and 14 January 2020. Blood-stained items recovered from the scene and a nearby burn site included a ballistic vest, an axe, rubber gloves and part of a sofa, all bearing the victim's DNA. The Defence submitted that McKenna had surrendered his house under duress from an organised criminal group and had no prior knowledge of the murder. The prosecution outlined that despite extensive cleaning efforts, forensic evidence remained throughout the property. McKenna was not present during the killing and has seven children with his wife and one from a subsequent relationship.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Father-of-eight handed over house for 'gruesome' Kean Mulready Woods murder. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

January 12 Incident
January 12, 2020 Incident
January 13, 2020 Incident
January 14 Other
January 13 Incident
February 20 Incident
March 8 Adjournment
2022-02-28 Publication

Why: Mr O'Higgins put it to the witness that the motive was "apparently something very petty" but the detective replied: "No, there may be more to it". CNI source report

Case subjects

Gerard McKenna

Defendant

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Gerard McKenna of Rathmullen Park, Drogheda, Co Louth appeared at the court today for his sentence hearing, having pleaded guilty last November to cleaning up and removing evidence from the scene at or near Rathmullan Park, Drogheda in Co Louth, with intent to impede the apprehension or prosecution of a person or persons, knowing or believing that the said person or persons were guilty of the murder of Mr Mulready Woods (17), on a date unknown between January 12 and 14 2020, both dates inclusive. Mr Justice Paul McDermott remanded McKenna in custody until March 8, when he will be sentenced.; Mr Justice Paul McDermott remanded McKenna in custody until March 8, when he will be sentenced.