Gardaí make first arrests in case of murdered car dealer

THREE people were last night being quizzed by gardaí in Limerick about the murder of a car dealer on New Year’s Eve.

These are the first arrests in connection with the death of Sean Poland who was shot dead at his bungalow home in Blackwater, Ardnacrusha, Co Clare, on December 31.

The 39-year-old second-hand car dealer was attacked by a gang of masked men at the front door of his home at 11.30pm.

Mr Poland's terrified partner Joanne Lyons, 42, was tied up by the killers who arrived at the house just minutes after the couple returned home from a night out.

It's understood that a deal made by Sean Poland in a city centre pub earlier that night may have been linked to his murder.

The gang who carried out the attack also stole about 1,000 in cash from Mr Poland's home.

Yesterday morning, gardaí arrested two men and a woman all in their early 20's on the northside of the city in connection with the murder investigation.

The arrests were made at 7am and all three were taken to two separate garda stations in the city where they were held for questioning under Section 30 of the Offences Against The State Act.

The two men were last night being questioned at Mayorstone Garda Station on the north side of the city and the woman was being held at Henry Street Garda Station in the city centre.

The investigation into the death of Sean Poland is just one of three-high profile murder inquiries underway in Limerick.

On November 29 last, Limerick bouncer Brian Fitzgerald, 34, was shot dead just yards from his home in Corbally.

It's believed the nightclub security worker was murdered by a drugs gang who were refused entry to Doc's nightclub in the city where Mr Fitzgerald worked as head of security.

On January 29, last crime boss Kieran Keane, 36, was shot dead in an execution-style killing in Drombana in Co Limerick.

More than 30 people have been questioned about Mr Keane's murder and this week three men were charged with kidnapping the 36-year-old on the night of the murder.

All three were refused bail and Limerick District Court heard that more serious charges including murder are expected to follow.