A soldier was among six people being detained for questioning last night in connection with the shooting dead of community activist Mr Terry Madden (51) in the Co Sligo village of Monasteraden last month. One of those being held is also believed to have republican connections.
It is believed that Mr Madden died in a contract killing. He was shot in the backs of both legs as he left his home in Monasteraden at about 8 a.m. on January 28th. A shotgun was used in the attack and he bled to death within minutes after an artery in one leg was severed.
Seven people, five men and two women, were arrested late on Sunday night and early yesterday morning. One woman was later released without charge.
It is believed that a number of the arrests were made in the Monasteraden area, and others in Sligo town and south Donegal.
The seven were arrested under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act and can be held for up to 72 hours before being charged. It has also emerged that a man was arrested for questioning and released without charge in Kildare three days ago in connection with the investigation.
Insp Michael Barrett, who is leading the investigation, said yesterday that the arrests were a breakthrough in the case but that no definite motive had yet been established. He said those in custody were being questioned as part of an ongoing investigation.
Mr Madden's killing stunned the local community and the gardai said initially that they were baffled by the paramilitary-style attack.
People in the south Sligo area said yesterday they were relieved that there had been a breakthrough in the case. A number of people said however that they were shocked that a number of those being questioned were from close to the Monasteraden area.
A lot of activity was reported at the Garda incident centre in the village of Gurteen at about 4 a.m. yesterday. The seven people were later questioned in Garda stations in Sligo, Boyle, Carrick-on-Shannon and Manorhamilton.
Mr Madden was involved in a number of community organisations in Co Sligo, and was described at his funeral by the Bishop of Achonry, Dr Thomas Flynn as "a good father, a good community man and a good churchman".
Mr Madden, a father of three grown-up children, was a member of the local Fianna Fail cumann and had been the central figure in setting up a number of projects in the area. He worked as the manager of the Monasteraden Resource Co-op and the local FAS scheme. He was on the board of Sligo LEADER Partnership Company and the Council For The West.
The Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Mr Noel Davern, attended Mr Madden's funeral, as did a number of local Fianna Fail and Fine Gael TDs.