Priest’s offer to broker truce
»»I’d jump at mediator role, says Fr Mcgee »»Butchered Keane’s mum is ‘devastated’
Drogheda needs three things to be done and we need them to be done now.
Firstly, we need the work of our dedicated local gardai to be supported by a massive “Limerickstyle” policing and criminal justice response. The number of people centrally involved is relatively small. The authorities must be in their faces at all times.
Secondly, the laws we have in place to target gangsters responsible for organised crime need to be used.
Those responsible for the mayhem must be taken off our streets, tried in the Special Criminal Court and locked up for a very long time. The right for the people of my area to live in peace and safety trumps the right of these hoodlums to stalk the streets.
Thirdly, we need a “Mulvey-style” commission for areas such as Drogheda and Coolock to develop a holistic response from State agencies and the community to criminal activity, to addiction and the disadvantaged by focussing on community policing, education, health, housing, work and other forms of social investment.
We are all proud of who we are and where we are from. This small bunch of people intent on wiping each other out do not represent us. This has to be brought to an end now.
A PRIEST told how the family of butchered Keane Mulready-woods is devastated – and offered to mediate with the warring gangs to end the bloody Drogheda feud.
Fr Conor Mcgee said the brutal murder is a “new level of ferociousness” and pleaded for those involved to stop.
Asked if he would be willing to meet the perpetrators to broker a truce, he said: “Oh absolutely, if there was an opportunity for that to arise you’d jump on that.
“We’re praying for not just the families that are suffering at this moment but for those who perpetrated such crimes. We’re fearful of any further escalation. We’d appeal to those involved to cease.”
A relative of the family told the Irish Mirror last night Keane’s mother is traumatised over the death.
The woman, who did not want to be named, said: “It’s her baby at the end of the day. He was treated so badly.
“He was only 17, he was going to be 18 next month.
“Keane was no angel but he had a lot to learn and had his whole life ahead of him.
“All of his friends have been very good to the family, they’ve been rallying around his mother, his brother and two sisters.”
Speaking at the Holy Family Church near Rathmullen Park, where gardai have sealed off a house, Fr Mcgee told the Irish Mirror the young teen’s family have been left devastated by the brutality of his murder.
He said: “We were with the family [on Wednesday], they’re obviously devastated at the way this whole thing has come about and of course it has really added further angst to the community.
“Any mother that has lost a child, it’s terrible, but in these circumstances you can imagine what it’s like for them. It’s horrific. The whole community is in shock really.
“We know this feud that’s existing which has escalated to this point now is just a different level altogether.
“All we can do at the moment is pray and support the families and pray for them at this time that are going through such a terrible time really.”
Residents in the area were too afraid to speak about the ongoing investigation.
Fr Mcgee said locals were living in fear but encouraged anyone with any information to support gardai in their efforts to get justice for Keane. He