quizzed Associate of jailed gangster Paul Crosby questioned on 'clean up' after murder of boy (17)

A CLOSE female associate of notorious Drogheda gangster Paul Crosby was one of two people arrested yesterday by gardaí investigating the murder and dismemberment of a 17-year-old boy in January last year.

The 29-year-old woman was sitting in a taxi with Crosby when he was targeted by a gunman in Drogheda just a day after the boy was murdered.

The taxi driver was shot, but Crosby escaped injury in the incident.

Senior sources said the woman, who was detained at Balbriggan garda station last night, is suspected of "playing a central role" in the logistics of the murder, "particularly after the event".

Both she and a 23-year-old man from Drogheda, described as a "very minor player" in the Drogheda feud, are suspected of helping in the "clean up".

News of the arrests comes as it can be revealed gardaí in Drogheda are "actively investigating" a Facebook group in which local criminals are selling bullet-proof vests.

The murdered juvenile cannot be named for legal reasons, but yesterday's arrests bring to seven the number of people arrested in the investigation - with two men already before the courts.

The 23-year-old man being detained at Drogheda garda station has few previous convictions and is not considered a significant player in the so-called 'Anti-Maguire gang' which carried out the murder.

However, the woman is well known to officers and has come to the attention of gardaí for drug and motoring offences.

She is currently on bail on drug charges.

She is said to have a significant cocaine habit and be "deeply loyal" to jailed thug Crosby (25), who is serving a four-and-a-half-year sentence in Mountjoy Prison for the arson of a stolen car.

Gardaí suspect Crosby may have key information about the events surrounding the murder of the tragic teen - in which his close associate Robbie Lawlor was a main suspect.

Crosby has not been arrested in relation to the 17-year-old's murder.

Lawlor, who was shot dead in Belfast last April, had been spotted in Crosby's company in the days surrounding the murder.

Just hours after the murder, Crosby was the target of a revenge attack.

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