THE findings of an extensive garda investigation into the murder of teenager Daniel McAnaspie is due to be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in three weeks' time.

The 17-year-old's body was found in a field in Co Meath in May, almost three months after he went missing while in state care. Six people, including two women, have been arrested as part of the garda probe.

Over 100 statements have been taken since the teenager went missing on 26 February. Detectives are satisfied they know who was responsible for his murder.

The investigation has been complicated by the fact that the teenager's body was not found for 11 weeks and gardaí say it is now up to the DPP to evaluate the "comprehensive" file and decide whether anyone should be charged.

Gardaí have interviewed the chief suspect in the case, as well as others who were present shortly before the teenager was murdered and his remains dumped. Statements have also been taken from McAnaspie's family, the HSE, neighbours and locals close to where his body was discovered on land in Rathfeigh. A post-mortem examination revealed that he had suffered multiple stab wounds.

McAnaspie, who is originally from Finglas, went with friends to a house in Blanchardstown on 26 February where a group of young people were drinking.

It is understood he went to the house with some friends to meet some teenage girls he knew. Detectives have established that a group of up to seven people were socialising there that night.

A source said that over the course of the night, McAnaspie got into a row with some young men who were not his friends. McAnaspie got into two scuffles with some of these young men on the street. They range in age from 17 to their early 20s. The man detectives believe murdered McAnaspie is in his early 20s. He is well-known to gardaí and is considered a violent criminal and drug dealer.

McAnaspie, who has two brothers and three sisters, was not involved in criminality but was considered a vulnerable young man. He had a difficult early life because of the death of both his parents at a young age.