Gardaí: Teen was hunted down

TEENAGER David Byrne was “hunted down” and knifed to death by a group of “former friends” because he owed money and had lost drugs, it has emerged.

Garda sources said the savage murder was the message being sent out by a “new generation” of young criminals, who have “no respect or fear for the law”.

Mr Byrne, 19, from Davitt House flats, Drimnagh, south Dublin, was chased into neighbouring Inchicore by a waiting gang of four hooded teenagers after 10pm on Saturday.

Gardaí said the gang inflicted four “severe” knife injuries to the rear of Mr Byrne and his kidneys. He was pronounced dead before midnight at St James’s Hospital.

The youths — aged between 17 and 18 — are from Drimnagh and hung around the Davitt House area, where they have been dealing drugs, drinking and causing antisocial behaviour.

While they waited for Mr Byrne to leave Davitt House and when they got back to Drimnagh after killing him they failed to realise that parts of the area are covered by CCTV cameras and were partially captured on them.

Detectives said they have a “good idea” who the suspects are and are “hopeful” of catching them.

The focus now is on finding the clothing they wore when they carried out the murder, in order to have forensic evidence firmly linking them to the crime.

Garda sources said Mr Byrne had “very little” in the way of criminal background. “This seems to have been a falling out among a group of former friends and young fellas over drugs and money,” said one garda source.

The deceased appears to have owed some money and have lost some drugs, probably seized by gardaí.

“These are the up and coming criminals over the next five years and they have no respect or fear for the law. Life is cheap with them,” said the source.

Gardaí said that while the youths are associated with the gangs involved in the violent Crumlin-Drimnagh feud — which has claimed some 14 lives — Mr Byrne’s murder is not linked to it.

The Garda helicopter conducted sweeps of the Drimnagh and Inchicore on Sunday, while scene of crime investigators, backed up by the Garda sub-aqua unit, carried out searches.

* Gardaí urge anyone with information about the murder, the attackers or suspicious activity before or after to contact Kilmainham Garda Station on 01-6667300 or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800-666-111.