In March of 2011, 19 year old David Byrne set out to meet someone near to his home in Drimnagh, Dublin City. Little did he know that he was walking into a trap. A panicked chase was caught on CCTV, but the final attack occurred in a dark corner out of sight of any cameras. Could his killer be identified from the footage?
This episode was researched and written by Aileen Spearin.
Find us on Facebook or Twitter!
With thanks to our supporters on Patreon! Donate today to get access to bonus and ad-free episodes!
Check out the Mens Rea Merch Store!
Theme Music:
Quinn’s Song: The Dance Begins Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Additional Music: Allemande (Sting) by Wahneta Meixsell. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Sources:
DPP vs Marcus Kirwan appeal doc, available on Vlex
Ireland Young and Dumb Episode 3, TV3 documentary, available on YouTube
Tom Brady and Patricia McDonagh, “Teen chased down and stabbed to death by gang”, Irish Independent, March 21st 2011
Ann Murphy, “Manhunt for gang after Dublin teen is murdered”, Evening Echo, March 21st 2011
Tom Brady and Shane Hickey, “Murdered teen’s stabbing death is not linked to gangland feud”, Irish Independent, March 22nd 2011
Cormac Murphy, “Gardai prepare to arrest four teen knife killers”, Evening Herald, March 22nd 2011
Tom Brady, “Teens aged 13 held over fatal stabbing of young man”, Irish Independent, March 23rd 2011
Clodagh Sheehy, “Two 13 year olds held over fatal knife attack”, Evening Herald, March 23rd 2011
Cormac O’Keefe, “Seven teenagers held in murder hunt”, Irish Examiner, March 23rd 2011
Tom Brady, “Young man was murdered over €2000 owed to drug dealers”, Irish Independent, March 24th 2011
Lynda O’Donoghue, “Six teens remain in custody over murder”, Echo, March 24th 2011
Cormac Byrne, “Mum is arrested over Boy Killers”, Evening Herald, March 25th 2011
Cormac O’Keefe, “Two teens still held over Inchicore stabbing”, Irish Examiner, March 25th 2011
Cormac Murphy, “Girl row behind the boy killers”, Evening Herald, March 26th 2011
Maeve Sheehan, “Teenage gang lured stab victim using girl’s phone”, Sunday Independent, March 27th 2011
“14 quizzed over murder”, Echo, March 31st 2011
Conor Feehan, “Heartbreak at funeral of teen stabbing victim”, Evening Herald, Apr 2nd 2011
Cormac Byrne, “Heartbroken mum mourns boy killers victim David”, Evening Herald, Apr 4th 2011
Charlie Mallon and Cormac Byrne, “Boy 17 charged with murder of young DJ David”, Evening Herald, Apr 22nd 2011
“File sent to DPP over fatal stabbing of 19 year old man”, Irish Independent, Jun 17th 2011
Conor Feehan, “Stabbed boy’s mother died a month later”, Evening Herald, Jun 23rd 2011
Natasha Reid, “Teen stab victim chased down dead end, court told”, Irish Independent, Jan 15th 2013
Natasha Reid, “Victim stopped breathing at stabbing scene, court told”, Irish Examiner, Jan 18th 2013
Natasha Reid, “Family flee court over CCTV if teen’s death”, Evening Herald, Jan 19th 2013
“Family upset by stab CCTV”, Irish Examiner, Jan 19th 2013
“Teen on stab murder trial”, Evening Herald, Jan 23rd 2013
“Murder trial nears verdict”, Evening Herald, Jan 31st 2013
“Teen lured into fatal ambush”, Irish Examiner, Feb 1st 2013
“Jury out in teen murder hearing”, Evening Herald, Feb 2nd 2013
Steohen Breen, “Jealous thug gets life for David, 19”, Irish Sun, Feb 5th 2013
Natasha Reid, “Life for killer who lured teen victim by pretending to be girl”, Irish Independent, Feb 5th 2013
Alan O’Keefe, “I feel sorry for my son’s killer, but I’ll never forgive him”, Evening Herald, Feb 5th 2013
Alan O’Keefe, “David did not deserve to die, he was a carer with compassion”, Evening Herald, Feb 8th 2013
Natasha Reid, “Father tells of massive void after son was killed by a man pretending to be a woman”, Irish Independent, Feb 11th 2013
“Teen jailed in adult prison”, Irish Examiner, Feb 14th 2013
Stephen Breen, “I testified for David and his family, but now I have to wear a hijab and have poo hurled at me”, Irish Sun, Feb 17th 2013
“Man to appeal murder conviction”, Irish Examiner, Jul 15th 2015
Ruaidhri Giblin, “Text message killer fails in his appeal bid”, Irish Independent, Oct 28th 2015
Stephen Breen, “They want to kill me”, Irish Sun, Dec 2nd 2015
Stephen Breen, “Depraved killer who lured victim to death moved back to cell in Mountjoy switch after being caught red handed”, Irish Sun, Aug 8th 2023