Courts / Donegal / Report

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

Date
2023-01-23

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Rathmullan

County
Donegal

Summary

In the Special Criminal Court, Gerard Cruise and Paul Crosby pleaded guilty to facilitating the murder of Keane Mulready-Woods in Drogheda, Co Louth, between January 11 and 13, 2020. The court heard that Cruise admitted to dropping the victim and Crosby at the murder scene, while Crosby had prior convictions including an acquittal for attempted murder. The presiding judge, Mr Justice Tony Hunt, noted that the defendants' apologies may appear empty to the victim's family given the horrific nature of the crime. The matter was adjourned to February 13 for sentencing. The report notes that Gerard McKenna was jailed last year for four years for assisting in the clean-up of the crime scene. Cruise's previous convictions include public order matters and a burglary in 1990. The court acknowledged Crosby's early guilty plea, which entitles him to a 25 percent discount on any headline sentence, and Cruise's early guilty plea. The investigation into other individuals involved in the murder remains ongoing.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Teen's murder 'one of the most horrifying' in Irish history, mother tells court. Charges or matters: a charge that, with knowledge of the existence of a criminal organisation, he facilitated the murder of Keane Mulready-Woods, at Rathmullan Park, Drogheda, Co Louth, between the dates of January 11 and 13, 2020, contrary to Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006; the same charge; public order matters and a burglary in 1990. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

April 2020 Hearing Or Sentence
January 11 Hearing Or Sentence
January 12, 2020 Other
March 11, 2020 Other
January 14 Other
January 12 Incident
December 8, 2020 Incident
February 16, 2021 Incident
February 2019 Incident
February 13 Adjournment
2023-01-23 Publication

Case subjects

Gerard Cruise

Defendant

Charges: a charge that, with knowledge of the existence of a criminal organisation, he facilitated the murder of Keane Mulready-Woods, at Rathmullan Park, Drogheda, Co Louth, between the dates of January 11 and 13, 2020, contrary to Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006; the same charge; public order matters and a burglary in 1990 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: McKenna was jailed last year for four years for assisting in the clean-up of the crime scene following the murder.; He adjourned sentencing to February 13.