This article is from page 3 of the 2006-05-09 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 3 JPG
THE arrest of a west Clare man in connection with the murder of Limerick bouncer Brian Fitzgerald has been described by gardai as “significant”, and the DPP will decide soon if charges are to be brought.
The 48-year-old man was arrested at Barefield, on the outskirts of Ennis, shortly before 6pm last Thursday, in connection with the death in November 2002.
He was detained at Mayorstone Garda Station in Limerick under Section 30 of the Offences against the State Act, before being released 24 hours later.
Gardai say a file is being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions, who will decide within weeks if charges are to follow.
The man’s house was searched on Thursday evening, following the arrest which was conducted by Limerick gardai, who were working in conjunction with officers from the Clare garda division.
“This development was significant, in the investigation, which is continuing,” said a garda source.
The man who was arrested had been outside the jurisdiction for several months and returned to his home in County Clare during the past fortnight. While several people have been interviewed in connection with the death of Mr Fitzgerald at his Corbally home, just one man is serving time for the murder.
James Martin Cahill (30), from Birmingham, who has strong west Clare connections, was jailed for life last November for murdering Mr Fitzgerald.
He was offered €10,000 by a gang to murder the father-of-two, after he refused a gang member entry to the nightclub where he was a bouncer. Cahill, who pleaded guilty to murdering Mr Fitzgerald, told his sentencing hearing that he would testify against those who he said paid him to carry out the murder.
“I will testify against people. That’s why I feel my life is in danger,” he told the Central Criminal Court, during his sentencing hearing six months ago.
He said he felt his life was in danger in prison and said that others involved in the case should be brought to justice.