Daniel stabbed at least 6 times in ‘desperate act’

MURDERED teenager Daniel McAnaspie was stabbed at least six times in what gardaí have described as a “desperate act”.

In a fresh appeal for information, gardaí said the 17- year-old from Finglas may have been murdered by two or more people.

Addressing the media yesterday, Superintendent John Gilligan said parts of Finglas and Blanchardstown had been “traumatised” by the death of Daniel, who was in the care of the HSE at the time of his death.

He was last seen alive at Whitestown Avenue in Blanchardstown in the early hours of February 26. His body was discovered last week in a ditch some 200m from the roadside at a farm ditch in Rathfeigh, Co Meath off the N2 motorway.

It is understood Daniel may have been stabbed up to 10 times in a calculated manner, possibly while being held. Attention is believed to be turning to a number of possible suspects, including two men in their 20s with violent pasts, but gardaí have stressed that their investigations are continuing and that they need anyone with any information to contact them.

The apparently motiveless killing has struck fear into the local community in parts of Finglas and Blanchardstown amid concern over possible intimidation which might make people reluctant to come forward to gardaí with information.

Officers investigating the case have stressed that anyone with any information linked to the killing should come forward and they will be protected.

Supt Gilligan said Daniel was “an innocent young man” who was “not a source of trouble to An Garda Síochána”.

Members of his family have already said that Daniel was not streetwise and that his experiences of the care system resulted in him being robbed and beaten in city centre hostels, and having to sleep in Garda stations as no alternatives were provided.

Gardaí are still unsure where exactly Daniel was killed, or when, but fears had been expressed for his safety in the aftermath of his disappearance in February.

It is understood that he had been drinking in a house at Whitecross Avenue where he met people unknown to him.

Gardaí have made more than 460 separate inquiries, including door-to-door inquiries in the Whitestown area.

Gardaí have said two or even three people could have been responsible for Daniel’s murder. It is understood one of the men has already come to Garda attention over an incident where a man’s face was slashed.

Detectives are working with family liaison officers and community police and have also asked anyone in the Duleek area who may have seen anything suspicious to come forward.

The HSE has already said there will be a review into Daniel’s death, but yesterday his family’s solicitor, Michael Finucane, said there was a need for an independent inquiry.

Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland programme, he said there was no guarantee of public scrutiny in a situation where the HSE investigates itself.