Ireland Investigation ongoing into 2019 Clogherhead murder
Keith Branigan, a 29-year-old man, was fatally shot with multiple gunshot wounds outside a mobile home at Ashling Holiday Park in Clogherhead, Co. Louth, on 27 August 2019. The attack was believed to be related to a feud between crime gangs in Drogheda, and he was believed to have been targeted by rival associates of Owen Maguire. Four people were arrested and questioned in connection with the investigation: a woman in her 20s and a man in his 40s in June 2022, and two men in their 30s in February 2023. All four were released without charge and files were prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions. The inquest was opened at Ardee District Court in October 2022 and adjourned, and the investigation is ongoing five years on.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrested23 Feb
5 reports - Charged
- In court
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Keith Branigan, a 29-year-old man, was fatally shot with multiple gunshot wounds outside a mobile home at Ashling Holiday Park in Clogherhead, Co. Louth.
- When
- The fatal shooting occurred on Tuesday 27 August 2019.
- Cause
- The attack was believed to be related to a feud between crime gangs in Drogheda, and Branigan was believed to have been targeted by rival associates of Owen Maguire because of his friendship with the leader of a rival gang.
- Weapon
- A gunman opened fire at Branigan and escaped in a red Lexus, which was later found burnt out at Whiteriver in Dunleer, Co. Louth.
- Investigation
- Four people were arrested and questioned in connection with the investigation: a woman in her 20s and a man in his 40s in June 2022, and two men in their 30s in February 2023.
- All four were released without charge and files were prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.
- In court
- The inquest was formally opened at Ardee District Court in October 2022 and adjourned under Section 25(1) because a criminal investigation was ongoing.
- Other details
- Branigan was believed to be a gangland figure and was the first fatality in the Drogheda feud.
- The murder investigation is continuing five years on.
45 statements extracted from the articles
- whatA 29-year-old man was fatally shot at a caravan park in Clogherhead, Co. Louth. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- whatA man in his 30s was arrested on Monday 20 February 2023 in connection with the shooting. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- whatA second male in his 30s was arrested on the morning of Wednesday 22 February 2023. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- whatHe was 29 at the time he was shot dead in broad daylight. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatA man in his 30s was arrested in connection with a fatal shooting in Louth in 2019. (rte.ie)
- whatThe victim was a 29-year-old man. (rte.ie, dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- whatA second man in his 30s was arrested on Tuesday morning. (rte.ie)
- whatA man in his 30s was arrested on Wednesday 22 February 2023 in connection with the fatal shooting. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- whatThe arrested man was released without charge. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- whereBullets struck him outside a mobile home in the Ashling Holiday Park in Clogherhead, Co Louth in 2019. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe fatal shooting occurred at a caravan park in Clogherhead. (rte.ie)
- whereThe shooting took place at a caravan park in Clogherhead, County Louth. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- whereThe shooting happened at a caravan park in Clogherhead, Co Louth. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe fatal shooting occurred on Tuesday 27 August 2019. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- whenThe fatal shooting occurred on 27 August 2019. (rte.ie)
- whenKeith Branigan was shot dead on 27 August 2019. (irishmirror.ie)
- causeThe attack was believed to be related to a feud between crime gangs in Drogheda that boiled over in 2018. (irishmirror.ie)
- causeMr Branigan died from multiple gunshot wounds. (irishmirror.ie)
- causeMr Branigan is believed to have been targeted by rival associates of Owen Maguire because of his friendship with the leader of a rival gang. (irishmirror.ie)
- weaponThe gunman opened fire at Mr Branigan. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe first arrested man was detained under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2007 at Drogheda Garda station. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- investigationThe second arrested man is detained in Drogheda Garda station under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2007. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- investigationA man in his 30s was arrested on Monday 20 February 2023. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationHe was detained under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2007 at Drogheda Garda station. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationHe was released without charge and a file will be prepared for the DPP. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationA second man in his 30s was arrested on Wednesday 22 February 2023. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe second man is currently detained at Drogheda Garda station under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2007. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationInvestigations are ongoing. (irishmirror.ie, dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- investigationThe first man was detained at Drogheda Garda Station. (rte.ie)
- investigationThe first man was released without charge and a file will be prepared for the DPP. (rte.ie)
- investigationThe second man is currently being detained at Drogheda Garda Station. (rte.ie)
- investigationA file will be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- investigationGardaí believe at least two people were involved in the shooting. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationFour people have been arrested and questioned in connection with the investigation. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationTwo males in their 30s were arrested in February and detained at Drogheda Garda Station. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationBoth men in their 30s were released without charge and files were prepared for the DPP. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationA woman in her 20s and a man in his 40s were arrested in June 2022 and detained at Drogheda Garda Station. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe murder investigation is continuing five years on. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe inquest was formally opened at Ardee District Court in October 2022. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe inquest was adjourned under Section 25(1) because a criminal investigation into the murder had begun. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe first arrested man was released without charge and a file will be prepared for the DPP. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- otherThe second man remains in custody and investigations are ongoing. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- otherKeith Branigan was believed to be a gangland figure. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherMr Branigan was the first fatality in the Drogheda feud. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe gunman escaped in a red Lexus, which was later found burnt out at Whiteriver in Dunleer, Co Louth. (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 28 Aug2024Investigations ongoing into murder of Drogheda feud’s first victim five years on
Five-year retrospective on the 2019 murder. Adds that four people have been arrested and released without charge, files went to the DPP, the inquest was adjourned because of the criminal investigation, and the probe is still continuing.
victim, Keith Branigan, 29, male, irish (judged from name)Keith Branigansuspect, 30s, malesuspect, 30s, malesuspect, 20s, femalesuspect, 40s, male - 24 Feb2023Man arrested in connection to 2019 fatal shooting in Louth released without charge
Reports that the man arrested on 22 February 2023 in connection with the 2019 Clogherhead fatal shooting has been released without charge, with a file to be prepared for the DPP.
victim, 29, malesuspect, 30s, male - 23 Feb2023Man arrested over 2019 murder in Co Louth released
Reports the arrest and release without charge of a man in his 30s, and the ongoing detention of a second man in his 30s, in connection with the 2019 fatal shooting. A file will be prepared for the DPP.
victim, 29, malesuspect, 30s, malesuspect, 30s, male - 23 Feb2023Man arrested over fatal shooting of Keith Branigan at caravan park in 2019
Provides specific arrest dates (20 and 22 February 2023), confirms the first man was released without charge with a file to be prepared for the DPP, the second man remains detained under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2007, and identifies the location as Ashling Holiday Park.
- 23 Feb2023Arrests made in relation to 2019 fatal shooting in Louth
Reports the arrest of two men in their 30s in connection with the 2019 fatal shooting; one released without charge with a DPP file to be prepared, the other still in custody under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2007.
victim, 29, malesuspect, 30s, malesuspect, 30s, male