Ireland Case No. 6265Murder · Co. Dublin · 22 Sep 2009
Father of murder victim Kenneth Fetherston seeks justice after arrest
Kenneth Fetherston, 26, a bus driver from Tallaght, was last seen leaving his home at the Tallaght Cross Hotel in Dublin 24 just before 9am on 22 September 2009. His skeletal remains were found in the Dublin Mountains near Rathfarnham on 31 January 2010, and gardaí believe he was stabbed to death following a dispute with a group of local men. After a cold case review begun in 2020, gardaí searched a private residence in the midlands and arrested a man in his 40s, understood to be a businessman known to Mr Fetherston, early on Bank Holiday Monday, 18 March 2024. He was released without charge on 19 March 2024, and a file is now being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrested18 Mar
4 reports - Charged
- In court
- Verdict
- Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Kenneth Fetherston, 26, a bus driver from Tallaght, was reported missing on 22 September 2009.
- When
- He was last seen leaving his home at the Tallaght Cross Hotel in Dublin 24 just before 9am on 22 September 2009.
- Where
- His red Honda Civic was later found in a lay-by on the N11 near Gorey, Co Wexford.
- His skeletal remains were found in the Dublin Mountains near Rathfarnham on 31 January 2010, about four months after he disappeared; partial remains were found on Military Road, Rathfarnham.
- Cause
- Gardaí believe he was stabbed to death following a dispute with a group of local men.
- Other reports say he was believed to have been killed by someone known to him in a row over money, with a father and son believed to have covered up the crime and dumped his remains in the mountains.
- Investigation
- The Garda Serious Crime Review Team began a cold case review in 2020, which led to new evidence and a search warrant for a residential property in the midlands.
- Gardaí, with the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, searched a private residence in the midlands and arrested a man in his 40s on suspicion of murder early on Bank Holiday Monday, 18 March 2024.
- A file is being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions, who decides whether anyone should be charged.
- Gardaí are appealing for anyone with information to come forward, and Crimestoppers is offering a reward for information that may lead to a conviction.
- Other details
- The arrested man, understood to be a businessman known to Mr Fetherston, was detained at a Garda station in the Eastern Region under section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984; this was the sixth arrest in the investigation.
- Charges
- The man was released without charge on 19 March 2024.
49 statements extracted from the articles
- whatA man has been arrested in connection with the murder of Kenneth Fetherston. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatA man in his 40s was arrested on suspicion of Kenneth Fetherston's death. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatKenneth Fetherston, a bus driver from Tallaght, disappeared in September 2009. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe man arrested on suspicion of Kenneth Fetherston's murder was released without charge. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereKenneth Fetherston was last seen leaving his home at the Tallaght Cross Hotel, Tallaght. (dublinlive.ie)
- whereThe car Kenneth Fetherston was driving was found in a lay-by on the N11 near Gorey, Co Wexford. (dublinlive.ie)
- whereKenneth Fetherston's remains were found in the Dublin Mountains in January 2010. (dublinlive.ie)
- whereKenneth Fetherston's remains were discovered at Military Road, Rathfarnham, on 31 January 2010. (dublinlive.ie)
- whereThe arrest followed a search of a private residence in the midlands. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereHis remains were discovered in the Dublin mountains on 31 January 2010. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereHis skeletal remains were found in the Dublin Mountains, near Rathfarnham, about four months later. (irishtimes.com)
- whereHis red Honda Civic was later found in a lay-by on the N11 near Gorey, Co Wexford. (irishtimes.com)
- whereHis remains were found in the Dublin mountains on 31 January 2010. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe arrest followed a search of a property in the midlands. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereKenneth Fetherston's remains were found in the Dublin mountains on 31 January 2010. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereKenneth's partial remains were found on Military Road in Rathfarnham. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenKenneth Fetherston, 26, was reported missing on 22 September 2009. (dublinlive.ie)
- whenKenneth Fetherston went missing on 22 September 2009. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenMr Fetherston left his home at the Tallaght Cross Hotel in Dublin 24 just before 9am on September 22nd, 2009. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe arrest took place early on Bank Holiday Monday morning. (irishmirror.ie)
- causeKenneth is believed to have been murdered in a row over money by a father and son. (irishmirror.ie)
- causeGardaí believe he was stabbed to death following a dispute with a group of local men. (irishtimes.com)
- causeThe victim is believed to have been killed in a row over money. (irishmirror.ie)
- causeKenneth is believed to have been stabbed to death by someone known to him. (irishmirror.ie)
- causeThe killing is suspected to have followed a row over money. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe Garda Serious Crime Review Team started a review and investigation into the murder in 2020. (dublinlive.ie)
- investigationGardaí searched a private residence in the Midlands. (dublinlive.ie)
- investigationGarda Serious Crime Review Team and Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation members carried out the search and arrest. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe case is a cold case investigation that will go to the DPP after the investigation ends. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationA cold case review was initiated in 2020 by the Serious Crime Review Team. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe review led to new evidence allowing gardaí to obtain a search warrant for a residential property in the midlands. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationFour men were arrested shortly after the body was found, but were released without charge. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationA file sent to the DPP found insufficient evidence to proceed. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationCold case gardai arrested a man in his 40s on suspicion of the murder. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí searched a residence in the Midlands as part of the arrest. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí are appealing for anyone with information to come forward. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationCrimestoppers is offering a reward for information that may lead to a conviction. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe arrest was made by cold case detectives. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí are preparing a file for the DPP. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí arrested a businessman on suspicion of the murder at an address in the Midlands. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationA file is being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherA man in his 40s was arrested on suspicion of murder following the search. (dublinlive.ie)
- otherThe arrested man is detained at a Garda station in the Eastern Region under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984. (dublinlive.ie)
- otherThe man was being detained at a Garda station in the Eastern Region under section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe father and son are believed to have covered up the crime and dumped Kenneth's remains in the mountains. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherA man in his 40s was arrested in connection with the investigation during the search on Monday morning. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe man is detained at a Garda station in the Eastern Region under section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThis is the sixth arrest in the investigation. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe arrested man is understood to be a businessman who knew Kenneth Fetherston. (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 20 Mar2024Dad of murder victim Ken Fetherston vows to fight for justice despite ill health
Covers the arrest and release of a businessman in the Fetherston case, a file going to the DPP, and the family's wish for a court case. Also adds the suspected motive of a row over money and a Crimestoppers reward.
victim, Kenneth Fetherston, male, irish (judged from name)Kenneth Fetherstonsuspect, male - 19 Mar2024Man arrested in investigation into long unsolved murder released without charge
Reports that the man arrested by cold case detectives in a midlands property search was released without charge and that a file is being prepared for the DPP.
victim, Kenneth Fetherston, male, irish (judged from name)Kenneth Fetherstonsuspect, 40s, male - 19 Mar2024Dad of unsolved murder victim Kenneth Fetherston 'speechless' as man arrested
Cold case development: a man in his 40s was arrested and a residence in the Midlands searched. The article also reports that the victim's father is hopeful of answers and that the case is at an advanced stage.
victim, Kenneth Fetherston, male, irish (judged from name)Kenneth Fetherstonsuspect, 40s, male - 18 Mar2024Man arrested as part of investigation into murder of bus driver 15 years ago
First report of the arrest of a man in his 40s, the sixth arrest in the investigation, after a cold case review that found new evidence.
victim, Kenneth Fetherston, 26, male, irish (judged from name)Kenneth Fetherstonsuspect, 40s, male - 18 Mar2024Man arrested in investigation into long unsolved murder of Dublin father
First report of the arrest in the Kenneth Fetherston murder investigation. It adds the arrest, the search of a residence in the midlands, and the detention under section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984. It also gives background on the 2009 disappearance and the 2010 discovery of the remains.
victim, Kenneth Fetherston, male, irish (judged from name)Kenneth Fetherstonsuspect, 40s, male - 18 Mar2024Man arrested in connection with 2009 murder of Tallaght man Kenneth Fetherston
First report of an arrest in the 2009 murder of Kenneth Fetherston, whose remains were found in the Dublin Mountains in January 2010. Gardaí's Serious Crime Review Team began a review in 2020.
victim, Kenneth Fetherston, 26, male, irish (judged from name)Kenneth Fetherstonsuspect, 40s, male