Gardaí seize 4x4 in probe into slurry pit murder

GARDAÍ investigating the murder of a man whose body was dumped in a Co Cork slurry pit continued to question a woman in her 40s last night following the seizure of a 4x4.

The blue Isuzu four-wheel drive, which was sought by detectives investigating the murder of 37-year-old new age traveller Garry Bull, was recovered in Ballyneety, Co Limerick, at about 6pm. It will be examined by forensic experts from the Garda Technical Bureau today. The 4x4 was seized as detectives continued to question an Irishwoman in her mid-40s at Bandon Garda Station.

She became the seventh person to be arrested as part of the murder probe when she was detained on the outskirts of Cork city just after midday under section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, which allow gardaí to question her for 24 hours.

Her period of detention was extended just after 6pm and it was expected that it would be further extended just before midnight.

Mr Bull’s body was found in a slurry pit on a farm near Dunmanway in west Cork last Thursday after gardaí, acting on a tip-off, mounted a search. An autopsy found Mr Bull, known as Goldtooth Garry, died from severe head injuries inflicted by possibly an iron bar or a hammer. Five people — three women aged 42, 33 and 19, and two men, aged 35 and 24, arrested as part of the probe have been released without charge. A third man, aged 22, remained in custody on an unrelated matter. Files are being prepared for the director of public prosecutions.

Mr Bull is survived by his two children, aged 15 and 17, and his parents who are in their 70s.