Gardaí remove the burnt-out car at Trinity Terrace off Clonliffe Road in Dublin. Inset: Keane Mulready-Woods Photo: Steve Humphreys

Gardaí investigating the gruesome murder of a teenager have recovered bloodstained machetes they believe were used in the killing.

It is suspected that Keane Mulready-Woods (17) was stabbed multiple times in the torso before his body was dismembered.

It is understood the victim's clothes may have been burned in a fire at the back of the house in Co Louth where it's believed the murder took place. The knives were recovered in a nearby shed.

The teen's limbs were found dumped in a large sports bag in Coolock on Monday night, while the victim's severed head was discovered in a burnt-out stolen car in the early hours of Wednesday.

Expand Close Gardaí search an area around a house in Rathmullen Park, Drogheda, in relation to the death of Keane Mulready-Woods. Photo: Colin Keegan Colin Keegan / Facebook

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Whatsapp Gardaí search an area around a house in Rathmullen Park, Drogheda, in relation to the death of Keane Mulready-Woods. Photo: Colin Keegan

Most of Keane's torso has not yet been recovered but gardaí believe it is that part of his body where he suffered fatal wounds.

"These knives have been seized at the crime scene and there are a number of them seized.

"It is not suspected that these knives were used to dismember the body," a senior source said last night.

Tensions remain extremely high in Drogheda and officers are on high alert after observing the chief suspect in the case drinking in a local pub on Wednesday.

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His bitter gangland rival, Cornelius Price, was also reported to be drinking in a nearby pub on the same night.

The Irish Independent understands that since then, the chief suspect for the murder of Keane has returned to the capital in a show of defiance to his enemies.

A massive investigation was continuing last night into the murder and the house in the Rathmullen Park area of Drogheda where it is believed the teen was murdered was still being forensically examined last night.

Gardaí believe the 35-year-old Dublin gangster and a 24-year-old Drogheda criminal were involved in the teen's murder but neither of them lives in the house being searched and at least half-a-dozen thugs were involved.

Gardaí said last night that a sick video posted on social media that showed a dismembered torso with multiple stab wounds was "hugely unlikely" to be the tragic teen.

They issued an appeal yesterday not to share any of the material circulating on social media which they said was being investigated and causing distress to the victim's family.

Gardaí were last night still searching a house in Co Louth where they believe the tragic young man was murdered in the savage attack.

It is understood that gardaí have detected blood "within the floorboards" at the house.

DNA testing confirmed on Wednesday the human limbs found in a holdall dumped in an estate in Coolock on Monday night were those of Keane, who had been missing since last Sunday.

The teenager's head was recovered in a Volvo hatch-back, which was on fire in Ballybough, north Dublin, on Wednesday morning.

The gruesome discovery was made before tests of other remains found dumped in a bag in the Coolock area on Monday night matched Keane's DNA profile.

The teen, who had links to both factions in the Drogheda feud, disappeared on Sunday at 6pm after going to meet an associate.

Gardaí last night re-issued an appeal seeking the public's assistance in tracing the movements of a blue Volvo S40 which was recovered partially burnt out. After confirming the identity of the teen murder victim, Drogheda's Garda chief Christy Mangan slammed the "brutal, savage attack of a child".

During a visit to Drogheda this morning, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar pledged that those responsible for Keane's murder will be brought to justice.

Mr Varadkar is due to get a briefing from gardai on the investigation.

"We are here in Drogheda today to express my revulsion and condemnation of the very serious crime that’s taken place here and to assure the people of Drogheda that the Government is 100 pc behind them,” Mr Varadkar told reporters only a short distance from Keane’s home.

“We’re going to get these people behind bars and we’re going to make this town safe again.

“I’m going to the Garda station to get a briefing from gardaí and find out is there anything more we can do in supporting them in their efforts.

“I really want to say to people across the country and also here in Drogheda that crime doesn’t pay, that we will get these people behind bars and make this town safe again and I want to encourage anyone with evidence or information to come forward," he added while urging people to come forward with information.

Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan added that they wanted to reassure the people of Drogheda.

"There’s been a considerable improvement in Garda resources here in Drogheda. This has been a brutal and heinous crime and there’s an ongoing and intensive Garda investigation," he said.

“I’m satisfied from talking to the Garda Commissioner that progress is being made and this brutal murder must be seen as a line in the sand as far as gangland criminals are concerned.

“Our message is there’s no hiding place in Drogheda or across the country.”

Irish Independent