Seven teenagers held in murder hunt

TWO 13-year-olds are among seven teenagers being questioned in relation to the murder of 19-year-old David Byrne.

It is understood that four of the other teenagers arrested — aged between 16 and 17 — are the four youths gardaí suspect carried out the fatal stabbing.

The two 13-year-olds and another young teenager are being questioned on suspicion of withholding information in relation to the murder.

Mr Byrne, from Davitt House flats, Drimnagh, south Dublin, was chased by a gang of four hooded youths a short distance to Inchicore shortly after 10pm on Saturday.

There they carried out what gardaí described as a “frenzied” attack during which Mr Byrne suffered four “severe” knife wounds to his back and kidneys.

All seven teenagers — six male and one female — are from Drimnagh and were picked up in separate searches during yesterday.

Detectives believe that Mr Byrne, who lived with his ill mother, was murdered over a falling out among “former friends” who were dealing drugs in the area.

Gardaí suspect he owed €7,000 to the gang and had also lost 3kgs of cannabis belonging to it.

Gardaí have been able to make rapid progress in their investigation due to the carelessness of the attackers who were caught on CCTV cameras in Drimnagh before and after the murder.

The youths had hung around the area while they waited for Mr Byrne to come out of Davitt House and returned to the general area after the killing.

Gardaí were happy they had identified the four youths and early yesterday swooped on two of them as well as two others who they felt might have information in relation to the killing.

This was later followed by the arrest of two more males and one female.

Four of them are being detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 on suspicion of murder and can be held for 48 hours.

The three younger teenagers are being questioned under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act 1939 and can be held for up to three days.

The murder has shocked the local community and has brought back memories of the savage murder of two Polish men in Drimnagh by local teenagers three years ago.

Gardaí have renewed their appeal to anyone who witnessed the incident or has any information in connection with it to contact Kilmainham Garda Station on 01 6667300, the Garda Confidential Line or any Garda Station.