A file on the murder of Darren McKeown, who died after being assaulted in Rowan Heights on December 26th, 2007, will be sent to the Director of Prosecutions shortly, Drogheda gardaí have confirmed.

Darren McKeown, who was living in Donore, was just 29 when he was found with serious injuries outside a house in Rowan Heights. He died later in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital.

A number of people including juveniles and a woman have been questioned in relation to his death.

No one has been charged in relation to Darren McKeown?s death.

Meanwhile, the trial of Keith Cunningham, (19) who is charged with the murder of Des Kimmins, in the early hours of December 30th 2007 is due to go ahead early next year.

Desmond Kimmins (41) from Ballsgrove died after being stabbed in Rathmullen Park. He had two daughters and a large extended family.

After the two deaths within the space of hours, Drogheda?s mayor Anthony Donohoe called for armed garda patrols on the streets of Drogheda.

Superintendent Gerry Smith has told the Drogheda Independent that ?particularly active investigations? into the shootings of both Paul Reay and Roy Coddington are also continuing.

On March 22nd 2007, Drogheda man Roy Coddington (36) was gunned down on Mornington beach. He was shot three times in broad daylight having apparently agreed to meet his killers on the sand dunes. Witnesses heard the gunshots and saw two men run toward a light blue hatchback.

Roy Coddington had been known to the gardaí as a small time drug dealer but he had left that behind according to his family. A father-of-five, he worked at a furniture store on Crushrod Avenue.

On November 23rd, 2006, a gunman posing as a road worker flagged down and then shot Paul Reay (26). He was just yards from his Marley?s Lane home and was on his way to face drugs charges in Kells Circuit Court. A father-of-three, he had been charged with having over ?300,000 worth of cocaine for sale or supply and unlawful possession.

Superintendent Gerry Smith said that gardaí are following a number of lines of inquiry in relation to both murders. He once again appealed to anyone with any information in relation to Paul Reay and Roy Coddington?s murder investigations to contact Drogheda gardaí at 9874200.