Gardai follow 450 lines of enquiry into teen's killing

Gardai say that Daniel McAnaspie, the 17 year-old whose remains were found dumped in a ditch on a farm in Rathfeigh last week, was killed in a "calculated and deliberate attack". A press conference was held yesterday (Tuesday) at Finglas Garda Station by Gardai investigating the teenager's death, as his family criticised the Health Service Executive (HSE) for failing him. Mr McAnaspie and his sisters were in State care following the death of their parents, and he was in the care of the HSE at the time of his disappearance from Blanchardstown in February last. The youth's badly decomposed body was found at Gilliamstown, Rathfeigh, by a local farmer on Thursday last, 13th May. The body was discovered by the landowner in a drain on his land at about 2pm. The scene was visited by the State Pathologist and an examination was carried out at the scene by the Garda Technical Bureau. The remains were identified as those of Daniel McAnaspie late on Friday. Yesterday (Tuesday), Gardai said that the killing was a desperate act against an innocent young man. They believe he was stabbed 10 times, by two people, to the upper body and throat in a calculated manner. The remains were found 200 metres off the main N2. Supt John Gilligan vowed Gardaí would pursue the case to the end. He said detectives were already following up to 450 different lines of inquiry in relation to the murder. Mr McAnaspie was living at a care home operated by Health Service Executive in Donabate, Co Dublin, when he failed to return there on the night of 25th February last. He was seen in the company of friends outside the Erin's Isle GAA club in Finglas earlier that day. He is known to have later gone to the Whitestown area of Blanchardstown where he was last seen at 3.30am on the morning of 26th February. He was taken way in the early hours of that day and "never seen again". Supt Gilligan said he was a man who was well-respected by his family, and who had never been in any trouble with the Gardaí. Garda Dave Dowling, who is leading the investigation, said: "We are asking anyone who is living in that area or who has any knowledge of how Daniel's body got there to contact gardaí at Blanchardstown on (01) 666 7000." He urged anyone who might have seen lights in the field late at night or in the early hours over recent months to come forward. One of six siblings whose father died in 1996 and whose mother died in 2007, Mr McAnaspie could not read or write and had been in the care of the HSE since 2003. His elder sister, Catríona McAnaspie, claimed her brother did not get the assistance he required while in care. In the Dail yesterday, Minister for Children, Barry Andrews, offered his condolences to the McAnaspie family and said the Government was committed to implementing the Children First guidelines for the protection and welfare of children.