Wednesday 28 October 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 hears murdered teenager Daniel McAnaspie 'could have been saved' with secure care

Daniel McAnaspie, a 17-year-old from Finglas, north Dublin, was stabbed to death on 26 February 2010 at Tolka Valley Park, Dublin 11, while in state care. Richard Dekker of Blanchardstown was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder in 2017, and Trevor Noone, then 29 and also from Blanchardstown, was imprisoned for 13 years for manslaughter. Dekker lost his appeal against his conviction in July 2022. An inquest at Meath coroner's court in Trim, running in May 2025, heard that a special care committee in the HSE had turned down four applications for secure care for Daniel in 2009 and that he could have been saved with such care.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court13 May
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Daniel McAnaspie, 17, was stabbed to death on 26 February 2010 at Tolka Valley Park, Dublin 11, while in state care.
Where
His badly decomposed remains were found in a drainage ditch in Co Meath by a farmer almost three months later.
When
The inquest is scheduled to run for a week at Meath coroner's court in Trim in May 2025.
Investigation
A special care committee in the HSE turned down four social-worker applications in 2009 for secure care, and a proposed therapeutic placement in Sweden was opposed by the HSE.
Charges
Richard Dekker was convicted of murder and Trevor Noone was convicted of manslaughter.
In court
In July 2022, Dekker lost his appeal against his conviction.
Sentence
  • Richard Dekker of Blanchardstown was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2017.
  • Trevor Noone, then 29 and from Blanchardstown, was imprisoned for 13 years for manslaughter in 2017.
Other details
  • Daniel had been known to care services from birth, was in state care from age 10, and had more than 20 care placements in the 15 months before his death.
  • Daniel was the fourth of six children whose father died in December 1996 and mother died in September 2007.
  • Both killers were older than Daniel.
15 statements extracted from the articles
  • 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)
  • whereHis badly decomposed remains were found in a drainage ditch in Co Meath by a farmer almost three months later (irishtimes.com)
  • 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)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 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