Two men arrested by Dublin gardaí in connection with the murder of Ms Raonaid Murray in 1999 were released without charge shortly after 7 p.m. last night.
Gardaí arrested a man in Lucan between 4 and 6 a.m. in West Dublin yesterday. The house was searched and items were seized for examination.
A second man was arrested shortly before noon in Wicklow. Both were arrested under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act and detained at Dún Laoghaire and Blackrock Garda stations. Both men are believed to be in their twenties. No file will be sent to the DPP regarding the arrests.
Gardaí at Dún Laoghaire station refused to comment on the arrests yesterday.
Ms Murray (17) died after receiving several fatal stab wounds to her side, chest and shoulder in an attack near her home at Silchester Park, Glenageary around 12.10 a.m. on Saturday September 4th, 1999.
Her body was found about 20 minutes later by her older sister, Sarah Murray, where she collapsed 50 yards from her home.
Despite thousands of statements taken by the gardaí, extensive enquiries and several arrests, Ms Murray's killer has never been found. A renewed appeal was made for help to solve her murder by her parents in January this year when Ms Murray would have been 21 years old.
Following the renewed appeal a Garda spokesman said it was likely someone knew something about the incident, and a new appeal may encourage them to come forward.
Gardaí issued an appeal for help two years after her death in 2001. At that time they were looking for several young men who were seen in the area at various times on the night of the murder.
The Garda spokesman said that these people were still encouraged to come forward. Gardaí want to speak to anyone who may have information about Ms Murray's whereabouts between 11.20 p.m., when she left Scott's public house in Dún Laoghaire, and 12.30 a.m., when her body was found at Silchester Crescent.
The attacker may have had blood on his clothes and gardaí have asked if anyone saw a relative returning home in this state.Gardaí are still trying to identify a man reportedly seen arguing with Ms Murray on Corrig Avenue on the night of the murder.
He was about 25 years of age and 5 feet 2 inches tall with an "Oasis" haircut. Two years after Ms Murray was killed, her family issued an appeal for information. "By keeping quiet, you are allowing Raonaid's murderer to walk free. By your silence, you are allowing the same thing to happen again," the family said.
Gardaí, still hopeful of a breakthrough, are offering a reward of €190,000 for information leading to her killer. Anyone with information is asked to contact the detective unit at Dún Laoghaire Garda Station on 01-6665012 or any garda station.