Gardai looking for two more suspects in double-murder case

EXCLUSIVE

Paul Neilan

Gardai are looking for two further non-nationals as part of their investigation into the murdered Dublin men found on Inchicup Island on Monday afternoon.
The two are suspects in the case and are from Eastern Europe but, The Anglo Celt understand, they, too, are now out of the country.
This brings to six in total - between suspects or persons of interested - who have skipped the country wanted for questioning.
Sometime after April 22, when Eoin O’Connor (32) and Anthony Keegan (33) were first reported missing, a separate four - two males and two females, who had been living in Cavan - also fled the country in fear of their lives.
A post-mortem was yesterday carried out the two victims, who are believed to have been shot and dumped on the tiny Lough Sheelin island in Mountnugent. Now a double murder investigation, for operational reasons gardaí are refusing to make public the findings of the autopsy.
The two men, who reportedly travelled to the county to collect some money, were found by gardaí at 4.30pm and were understood to be wrapped in sheeting material under tarpaulin.
The case is now being headed up by Kells gardaí because the island is 200-odd metres inside the Meath border, with Superintendent Sean Farrell - formerly of Ballyconnell Garda District - in charge of the investigation.
The bodies were kept at the scene over Monday night, pending the arrival of the State Pathologist’s office. The discovery followed contact from a member of the public.
The car in which they were believed to be travelling was later found parked at the banks of Lough Owel in Co Westmeath, but gardaí believe it was parked there as a decoy.

Theories
Gardaí working on the theory that the men were double-crossed have not discounted that just yet, and while a Dublin crime boss still figures in their thinking he is now a weaker suspect.
Another theory is that there were more than one group who owed money - the two fled non-national males who lived in the south of the county.
Around 20 searches, involving hundreds of gardai from various units and districts have been carried out in the south of the county since April, and Dublin gardaí had previously examined the house, which has again been cordoned off by gardaí.
Gardaí, who already impounded a boat off the lake for tests, are “appealing for anyone with information particularly those from the boating community on Lough Sheelin or anyone who may have been on the Lough between April 22 and May 26” to contact Kells Garda Station on (046) 928 0820, The Garda Confidential Line 1800 666111 or any Garda Station.