TWO PEOPLE arrested in connection with the stabbing to death of a taxi man were still being questioned by gardaí last night about the killing.
The man and woman were arrested in a hotel near Dublin airport on Thursday evening.
Gardaí believe the couple, who are in their 20s, were at the scene of the murder last Tuesday of taxi driver Mark Smyth.
The 31-year-old father of one was stabbed repeatedly in an attack in Blanchardstown just after 10pm.
Mr Smyth, who was originally from Ballymun, Dublin, had been living in the Hawthorns, Duleek, Co Meath, in recent years. He left his home on Tuesday night and went to Clonee, Co Meath, to collect a couple he knew.
Mr Smyth's partner and the couple's 18-month-old son went in the car for the journey. Mr Smyth collected the couple at their home in Clonee and brought them to a relative's house in the Fortlawn area of Blanchardstown.
However, when the car arrived in Fortlawn a row broke out in the vehicle.
Mr Smyth was attacked by at least one of his passengers. He got out of his car and tried to run to safety but was pursued.
His attacker caught up with him about 100 metres from his taxi and stabbed him several times. A local resident ran to his aid. However, Mr Smyth's injuries were so severe that he died at the scene just after 10pm.
The couple he had carried from Clonee to Dublin fled the scene.
On Thursday at 6.30pm a large team of gardaí acting on intelligence went to a hotel close to Dublin airport where the couple had checked in.
The 22-year-old man and 25-year-old woman both gave themselves up. The man was taken to Blanchardstown Garda station and the woman to Cabra Garda station. Both were detained for questioning under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act.
Their periods of questioning were suspended from midnight on Thursday to 8am yesterday. Their detention was further extended yesterday afternoon. Both were due to be released or charged at about midnight last night.
