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A person has been arrested in connection with the death of pensioner Rose Hanrahan.
The suspected was detained on a European arrest warrant. Gardaí refused to say where or when the suspect was arrested, but it is understood he was detained by police in the UK and that the warrant is currently before the courts.
A source said the suspect must be brought back to Ireland before they can formally arrest and question him about Ms Hanrahan’s murder, which they added could take a considerable amount of time.
Ms Hanrahan was found dead in her home in December 2017 in Thomondgate, Limerick city, where she had been assaulted.
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The 78-year-old was discovered by relatives in her bungalow at New Road, Thomondgate, in Limerick, on December 15th, 2017.
It is believed she was killed during a botched attempted robbery.
Gardaí have been liaising with Europol and have taken more than 1,300 witness statements.
The suspect is believed to have travelled to France immediately after Ms Hanrahan’s murder before traveling further into Eastern Europe.
An Garda Síochána said on Saturday: “Gardaí are aware that an individual has been arrested on a European arrest warrant. No further information at this time.”
Local Sinn Féin councillor John Costelloe, who knew Ms Hanrahan, said: “The news of the arrest has given a sense of relief to the community two years on from Rose’s death, but they are still a little nervous. We need to leave it up to the gardaí and let the matter take its course.”