McAnaspie family face anxious wait for news

THE family of a Dublin teenager who vanished almost three months ago are still facing an anxious wait to find out if the body of a young male discovered in Co Meath on Thursday is that of their missing relative.

Gardaí have formally notified next-of-kin of Daniel McAnaspie, 17, to prepare themselves for the possibility that the dead man is the young Dubliner.

Detectives yesterday upgraded the investigation into a murder hunt after the results of a postmortem carried out on the body revealed that the victim had died from multiple stab wounds.

A Garda spokesperson said last night that further tests were continuing in order to establish the identity of the dead man. Analysts will now examine DNA samples and dental records to try and get a positive identity on the victim.

It is believed the body is that of a young male in his late teens or early twenties.

The grim discovery was made at 2pm on Thursday by a farmer out walking his lands at Gilliamstown Rathfeigh, Co Meath, who came across the badly decomposed body which was part-submerged in a drain at the edge of a ploughed field.

The site was visited by the assistant State Pathologist, Dr Khaled Jaber, before the body was removed for further tests to James Connolly Memorial Hospital in Blanchardstown.

The scene where the body was found is located a short distance from the main Dublin-Derry road between Kilmoon Cross and Duleek.

Members of the Garda Technical Bureau continued with a detailed forensic examination of the scene throughout yesterday. It is believed the body may have lain in the ditch for several weeks at least and probably longer.

Gardaí have appealed for help from anyone who spotted any unusual activity near the area where the body was discovered in recent months. They can be contacted at Laytown garda station on 041-9813320.

Daniel’s sister, Catriona McAnaspie said yesterday that they had little more information from gardaí beyond the possibility that the body was that of her brother.

“If it is Daniel it will at least be an end to our search and we can finally get him back, but it will obviously be very sad as well,” said Catriona.

The McAnaspie family expressed fears almost immediately after Daniel went missing on February 26 that he had been murdered.

Relatives have run a high-profile campaign seeking information on the circumstances of the teenager’s disappearance over the past few months.

Daniel has not been seen since he travelled from his home in Finglas to go drinking in the Whitestown area of Blanchardstown with a friend and two girls on February 26 last.

The teenager, one of six siblings whose parents are dead, was in State care at the time of his disappearance

Crimestoppers has also offered a €10,000 reward for anyone providing information on the background to Daniel’s disappearance.

Gardaí, who have separately been investigating his case, believe Daniel was attacked and beaten before his body was dumped.