Man, 36, is arrested over murder of suspect in horrific Irish gangland execution

A man has been arrested over the murder of a suspect in the horrific Irish gangland execution and dismemberment of Keane Mulready-Woods. 

Named locally and on social media as Robbie Lawlor, 36, the victim was shot in the front garden of a house in the Etna Drive area of Ardoyne, at around 11.50am on Saturday morning. 

The suspect, a 36-year-old male, was detained on Tuesday night on suspicion of murder. 

The victim shot dead in broad daylight is believed to have been a suspect in the murder of 17-year-old boy who was brutally killed and dismembered earlier this year.  

Lawlor is said to have been a senior figure in a feuding criminal gang and was understood to be in hiding since the abduction and murder of Drogheda teenager Keane Mulready-Woods, whose dismembered remains were found in Dublin in January.

Three other men and a teenager who were arrested on suspicion of the murder have since been released. 

Dept Supt Jason Murphy said he was ‘astounded by the recklessness of the killer or killers’.

He said: ‘Those involved in this murder selfishly gave no thought to the impact on frontline emergency services who are already working hard to keep people safe with an already stretched resource. 

‘Not only did they carry out this callous murder leaving a family experiencing their worst nightmare, but they did not care that children and other members of this north Belfast community were placed at risk.’

Police are trying to establish whether a light coloured car, registration YLZ 7052, which was found burned out in nearby Kingston Court, was connected to the shooting.

He also appealed for information about a dark-coloured car seen in Ardoyne Avenue minutes after the other car was set on fire. 

Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis said the killing was ‘an abhorrent and brutal crime, for which there is no excuse’, the Irish Mirror reports. 

Mr Lewis added: ‘This cowardly act is particularly thoughtless at a time when our front-line emergency services are already working incredibly hard to keep us all safe while dealing with the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

‘I strongly encourage anyone who has information about this despicable crime to come forward and speak to the PSNI.’

Sinn Fein MLA Gerry Kelly said: ‘Actions like this have no place in our society and I repeat my condemnation of those involved.

Meanwhile, Northern Ireland’s justice minister Naomi Long  said: ‘I unreservedly condemn this senseless murder and offer my deepest sympathies to the family.

‘Those responsible for this appalling crime have left a family grieving and a community in shock. There is no place for the gun in our society and it is time to stop these attacks.’ 

Keane Mulready-Woods was abducted from the streets of Drogheda on January 12 and taken to a pebbledash home, where he was tortured and murdered. 

His remains were found the next day, after he was reported missing by his family.