Man arrested over murder of Kane McCormack in Co Meath

Fatal shooting two years ago linked to ongoing Kinahan-Hutch feud

Kane McCormack: murdered two years ago. Photograph: Padraig O’Reilly
Kane McCormack: murdered two years ago. Photograph: Padraig O’Reilly

Gardaí investigating the murder of a Dublin man as part of the Kinahan-Hutch feud have arrested a man for questioning.

The suspect is being questioned by gardaí in Ashbourne in connection with the shooting dead of Kane McCormack.

His body was found dumped in a field in Co Meath in December, 2017, 12 months after his father Noel Kirwan was shot dead, also as part of the Kinahan-Hutch feud.

Noel Kirwan (62) was shot dead during Christmas week, 2016, outside his home in Clondalkin, west Dublin.

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He had been photographed six months earlier beside Gerry Hutch at the funeral of Eddie Hutch after his murder by the Kinahans.

Gardaí believe Mr Kirwan was closely linked to criminals on both sides of the feud and that his attending the Eddie Hutch funeral angered those on the Kinahan side.

When his son was shot dead 12 months later gardai suspected the men who killed his father feared reprisals from Kane McCormack and so murdered him.

The man being questioned on Wednesday is in his 40s and was arrested in Dublin under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act.

His is the second arrest, coming as it does following the arrest of a man in his 20s last December. To date nobody has been charged in connection with the murder.

Shot in head

On Friday, December 1st, 2017, McCormack, who lived in Clonee, told his partner he was going to meet somebody.

When McCormack, who was linked to dissident republicans, did not return and nothing was heard from him, his partner contacted the Garda early the following day to report him missing.

Hours later his body was found on farm land by a woman walking at Walterstown near the Meath-Kildare border. He had been shot in the head.

Gardaí believe he went to meet somebody known to him but was instead taken away and shot.

He had parked his silver 04 D Peugeot 307 hatchback at the Aldi supermarket car park in Clonee Village at 5pm on Friday. He was then driven off in a black saloon type car which drove towards Dunboyne.

About an hour later, at 6pm, Finglas gardaí found a black Audi saloon car on fire just off the M50 at Meakstown Cottages.

Garda sources said it was believed he was taken in that car to the spot where he was shot dead and his body left where it was found the following morning.

Conor Lally

Conor Lally

Conor Lally is Security and Crime Editor of The Irish Times