A round-up of today's other home news in brief
SF criticises extended detentions
SINN FÉIN has criticised the holding of suspects for longer than seven days and called for those held under anti-terror legislation to be charged or released, writes Dan Keenan.
Policing spokesman Alex Maskey’s comments follow the arrest and detention of 11 suspects, one of them a 17-year-old, in connection with the dissident republican murders of two British soldiers and a police officer this month.
Those being questioned were detained in a series of operations following the killings.
“If there is evidence against an individual then that person should be charged and that evidence put before the courts,” said Mr Maskey. “If there is no evidence then that person should be released. That is the normal democratic standard and it is one which must be adhered to.”
Three held over Tallaght murder
Three people remained in custody last night as gardaí continued their investigation into the murder of a man in Dublin and the wounding of his partner last week, writes Éanna Ó Caollaí.
Séamus (Shay) O’Byrne (27) was shot just before 8.30pm last Friday outside a house at Tymon North Park in Tallaght, west Dublin. His partner was treated in hospital for a gunshot wound received during the attack.
A 33-year-old man and a 35-year-old woman were arrested on Wednesday evening. Both are detained at Terenure Garda station and at Tallaght Garda station under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act.
A 31-year-old man who was arrested on Tuesday remains in custody at Tallaght Garda station.
Inquest on bar worker adjourned
An inquest into the death of a former pub worker in Cork was adjourned yesterday at Cork City Coroner’s Court. Donal Manley, of High Street in Cork, was found dead at his home having sustained multiple head injuries on October 12th, 2008.
Coroner Dr Myra Cassidy heard yesterday that Mr Manley died of severe brain injuries as a result of a fractured skull.
Paul Murphy (24), from Knocknaheeny, is charged with the murder of Mr Manley and remains in Garda custody awaiting court proceedings at Cork District Court. The inquest was adjourned pending the outcome of criminal proceedings.
Garda uniforms found in car
Detectives found Garda uniforms, bulletproof vests and an extendable baton in a car they stopped in Dundalk just before Christmas 2007, the Special Criminal Court in Dublin heard yesterday.
A Dundalk man, Anthony Lee (33), Carnbeg, Doylesfort Road, has pleaded not guilty to membership of the INLA on December 20th, 2007.
Opening the prosecution case, Mary Ellen Ring SC said gardaí investigating the activities of the INLA saw the accused man arriving at a housing estate in a black VW Passat car.
When detectives attempted to stop the car it and collided with another Garda car which had tried to block the road.
When Mr Lee’s home was searched an Irish Army issue bulletproof vest was found under the bed.
The trial is continuing.
Concern over PSNI protection
Concerns have been raised at an apparent shortage of body armour for PSNI officers following recent murders. Officers, claiming that some smaller sizes of flak jackets were in short supply, forwarded e-mails to the BBC which pointed to a need for more protection.The PSNI said last night: “The safety of all police officers is of paramount importance to the PSNI and all appropriate measures are taken to ensure they are adequately protected . . . further supplies of ballistic body armour are being supplied to address issues around the availability of some sizes.”