The ‘house of horrors’ where Keane Mulready-Woods was butchered is being renovated - more than four years after the gruesome murder that shocked the nation - we can exclusively reveal.
The property - which has been vacant and boarded up since the 17-year-old’s horror killing in January 2020 - was placed back on Louth County Council’s housing list but remains a stark reminder of one of the country’s most heinous murders.
The bungalow, at Rathmullen Park in Drogheda, had been allocated to Gerard ‘Ged’ McKenna for several years prior to the murder.
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Father-of-eight McKenna (53) was jailed for four years after the Central Criminal Court heard how he had been directed to clean up the house - where 17-year-old Keane was murdered and dismembered - by now-deceased serial killer Robbie Lawlor.
He was released from prison in May 2023 as we exclusively revealed but has not returned to the house as it is now back in the Council’s charge.
It is understood he is 'living with friends' in the Co Louth town, according to sources.
Since the Mulready-Woods murder, the Council boarded up the property and it remained that way until recently when Louth County Council appointed contractors to completely renovate the property.
The outside of the property has been completely re-plastered and re-painted with new windows due to go in within the coming weeks.
Renovation works will be completed inside the property also with the intention of it being rented out by the local council.
“There have been a few locals who have been enquiring about the property asking when will it be ready as they want to live in it,” a source said.
“It actually looks a lot better than it was when it was lying there for nearly four years after the murder of Keane Mulready-Woods. The work needed to be done on it.”
Just five months ago, in October 2023, when we visited the site there were steel shutters covering the windows and front door and it was in an uninhabitable condition.
And a steel gate that was in place blocking off the back of the property, which was in place had been removed showing how the back garden was strewn with rubbish and remnants of a fire that was set on the grass still remained there.
Keane Mulready-Woods was murdered on January 12, 2020 and parts of his body were found in a bag in the Moatview area of Coolock in Dublin. Two days later, his head, hands and feet were found in a burning car in the Drumcondra area of Dublin.
When gardai searched the house at Rathmullen Park, Drogheda, Co Louth they found blood splatter and bungled attempts had been made to remove evidence.
Gerard ‘Ged’ McKenna had been ordered to get rid of evidence after allowing his house to be used by Keane’s killer Robbie Lawlor.
He later told gardai he had carried out the botched clean up on the directions of Lawlor because if he didn't "He [Lawlor] will mince my child."
Two other men, Paul Crosby, 27 and Gerard ‘Rocky’ Cruise, 49, were jailed for 10 and seven years respectively for their roles in the gruesome murder.
They assisted a crime gang to carry out the murder of the teen - a killing a judge described in court as "a heinous and appalling crime."
Both criminals admitted facilitating the murder of Keane between January 11 and 13, 2020.
Keane was lured to the house where he was murdered and dismembered, gardai believe by slain serial killer Robbie Lawlor using a drill and other implements.
Lawlor, who was shot dead in Belfast three months after the horror killing in April 2020, was described in court by a senior detective as "a criminal of significant notoriety linked to several murders and was heavily involved in the Drogheda feud and other feuds."
Several others suspected of providing logistical help to the gang behind the killing of Keane have been arrested and quizzed by gardai.
Investigators have sent files to the Director of Public Prosecutions but have not yet received directions on the matter.
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