Woman quizzed 20 years after murder

GARDAÍ are to prepare a file for the Director of Public Prosecutions after questioned a woman in connection with the murder of a man more than 20 years ago.

Brian McGrath, 43 and a father-of-four, disappeared from his home in Coole, Co Westmeath, in March 1987.

Gardaí dug up human remains in November 1993, after they received information directing them to a field in the Coole area.

While efforts had been made to set the body alight before it was buried, officers suspected they were the remains of Mr McGrath.

However, the body could not be formally identified.

At the time gardaí arrested a woman and interviewed another man, thought to be an accomplice, who had moved to Britain.

It is understood gardaí got an admission in relation to the killing, but it was not enough for the DPP to recommend charges.

A garda source said this was because they could not identify the remains.

Last May, the Garda Serious Crime Review Team secured an exhumation. Improvements in DNA technology enabled scientists to confirm the body was that of Mr McGrath.

A bone specialist conducted an examination to determine whether violence had been used to break bones in the deceased. The state pathologist also carried out further forensic tests.

Following this analysis, gardaí yesterday arrested a woman and questioned her about Mr McGrath’s death.

A Garda spokesman said officers from the Longford Division and the Serious Crime Review Team arrested a woman, aged in her 60s, at about 8.15am yesterday at Coole.

She was detained under section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act in Mullingar Garda station.

Detectives also travelled to Liverpool in recent days to interview a man in his 40s.

The woman was released without charge yesterday evening. However, a senior garda spokesman confirmed a file would now be prepared for the DPP.

Meanwhile, in Dublin, gardaí arrested a man in connection with the suspicious death of a woman last weekend.

A Garda spokesman said the woman, aged 38, died in Tallaght Hospital last Saturday. He said detectives investigating her death arrested a 38-year-old man in the Knockmore Green area of Tallaght shortly after 12.30pm yesterday.

The man is being detained in Tallaght Garda station. Gardaí declined to give further information and would not comment on reports the woman had been assaulted at a house in Tallaght.