Sunday 1 November 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 1680Murder · Co. Dublin · 26 Feb 2010

Inquest examines HSE role in 2010 murder of teenager in Dublin

Daniel McAnaspie, a 17-year-old from Finglas, north Dublin, who had been in state care from age 10, was stabbed to death at Tolka Valley Park, Dublin 11, on 26 February 2010. His decomposed remains were found in a drainage ditch in Co Meath almost three months later, after which Richard Dekker and Trevor Noone were identified as suspects. Dekker was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in 2017, while Noone was imprisoned for 13 years for manslaughter; the Court of Appeal dismissed Dekker's appeal in July 2022 and the Supreme Court refused leave to appeal in May 2023. An inquest into the HSE's failure to provide secure care for Daniel is ongoing at Meath coroner's court in Trim.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court9 May
    2 reports
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Daniel McAnaspie, 17, was stabbed to death at Tolka Valley Park, Dublin 11 (also described as Blanchardstown), on 26 February 2010.
Where
His decomposed remains were found in a drainage ditch in Co Meath by a farmer almost three months later.
Cause
Gardaí suspected the victim was lured to a secluded location and stabbed to death with garden shears.
Investigation
Dekker and Trevor Noone were identified as suspects after the body was found, and Dekker was arrested on 24 May 2010.
In court
  • Dekker was convicted of murder after a trial that started on 22 February 2017.
  • The Court of Appeal dismissed Dekker's appeal in July 2022, and the Supreme Court refused leave to appeal in May 2023.
Sentence
Dekker was sentenced to life in 2017, and Trevor Noone, then 29, was imprisoned for 13 years for manslaughter in 2017.
Other details
  • Daniel had been in state care from age 10 and had more than 20 care placements in the 15 months before his death.
  • A special care committee in the HSE turned down four social-worker applications in 2009 for secure care for Daniel.
  • Daniel's guardian ad litem recommended a therapeutic secure care placement in Sweden, which the HSE opposed.
  • An inquest into the HSE's role is scheduled to run for a week at Meath coroner's court in Trim.
26 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatRichard Dekker was convicted of the murder of Daniel McAnaspie. (courts.ie)
  • whatA special care committee in the HSE turned down four social-worker applications in 2009 for secure care (irishtimes.com)
  • whatDaniel was 17 years old and originally from Finglas, north Dublin (irishtimes.com)
  • whatDaniel was murdered while in care in 2010 (irishtimes.com)
  • whatHe had more than 20 care placements in the 15 months before he died (irishtimes.com)
  • whatDaniel was stabbed to death on 26 February 2010 at Tolka Valley Park, Dublin 11 (irishtimes.com)
  • whatMs Dunne recommended Daniel be sent for therapeutic secure care at Hassela Gotland in Sweden (irishtimes.com)
  • whatDaniel McAnaspie was murdered. (extra.ie)
  • whereThe killing took place at Tolka Valley Park, Blanchardstown. (courts.ie)
  • whereHis badly decomposed remains were found in a drainage ditch in Co Meath by a farmer almost three months later (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe murder took place on 26 February 2010. (courts.ie)
  • causeGardaí suspected the victim was lured to a secluded location and stabbed to death with garden shears. (courts.ie)
  • investigationDekker and Trevor Noone were identified as suspects after the body was found. (courts.ie)
  • investigationDekker was arrested on 24 May 2010 and detained under section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984. (courts.ie)
  • courtDekker was convicted after a trial that started on 22 February 2017. (courts.ie)
  • courtThe Court of Appeal dismissed Dekker's appeal against conviction. (courts.ie)
  • courtThe Supreme Court refused Dekker leave to appeal the Court of Appeal decision. (courts.ie)
  • courtIn July 2022, Dekker lost his appeal against his conviction (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe inquest is scheduled to run for a week at Meath coroner's court in Trim (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceRichard Dekker from Blanchardstown was sentenced to life in 2017 for the murder (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceTrevor Noone, then 29 and from Blanchardstown, was imprisoned for 13 years for manslaughter in 2017 (irishtimes.com)
  • otherBoth killers were older than Daniel (irishtimes.com)
  • otherDaniel was the fourth of six children whose father died in December 1996 and mother died in September 2007 (irishtimes.com)
  • otherDaniel and his family were in favour of the Sweden placement but the HSE opposed it (irishtimes.com)
  • otherDaniel had been known to care services from birth and was in state care from aged 10 (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe sister of Daniel McAnaspie has issued a plea. (extra.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 27 May2025
    Otherextra.ie, follow-up
    Sister of murdered Daniel McAnaspie issues plea

    Only the headline is available; the article body is template code. The headline links it to the murder of Daniel McAnaspie.

    victim, Daniel McAnaspie, irish (judged from name)Daniel McAnaspie
  2. 13 May2025
    In courtirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Murdered teenager Daniel McAnaspie ‘could have been saved’ with secure care, inquest hears

    Inquest testimony examining the HSE's failure to provide secure care for Daniel McAnaspie in the years before his 2010 murder, including four rejected applications and a proposed placement in Sweden that was opposed by the HSE.

    victim, Daniel McAnaspie, 17, male, irish (judged from name)Daniel McAnaspieconvicted, Richard Dekker, male, named, irish (judged from name)Richard Dekkerconvicted, Trevor Noone, 29, male, named, irish (judged from name)Trevor Noone
  3. 9 May2023
    In courtCourts Service judgment, first report
    [2023] IESCDET 56 Supreme Court: People(At The Suit Of The Director Of Public Prosecutions) -v- Richard Dekker

    Supreme Court determination refusing leave to appeal the Court of Appeal's 27 July 2022 dismissal of Dekker's appeal against his murder conviction.

    convicted, Richard Dekker, named, non-irish (judged from name)Richard Dekkervictim, Daniel McAnaspie, irish (judged from name)Daniel McAnaspiesuspect, Trevor Noone, named, irish (judged from name)Trevor Noone