Two held in gangland killing of drug dealer

GARDAÍ have up to five days to question two men arrested in connection with the gangland-style killing of a Cork drug dealer.

The men, aged 22 and 30, are being questioned about the killing of Darren Falsey, who was shot three times at close range in the hallway of his house at Ashbourne Court, Carrigaline, Co Cork, on August 3.

The men, who senior gardaí described as “associates”, were arrested at separate addresses in the Carrigaline area at 7am yesterday during a co-ordinated swoop by gardaí backed up by armed members of the Regional Support Unit.

Both men were also said to have known 26-year-old Falsey quite well.

Despite never having been arrested for drug-dealing, gardaí believe that Falsey was a major supplier of cocaine and it has been speculated that he may have been killed because he refused to pay protection money or pay off a debt.

On the day Falsey was shot dead, he had visited Cork city with his partner, Lorraine Conroy. She dropped him to their rented home at 2pm.

Ms Conroy then left and when she returned approximately 45 minutes later, she discovered Falsey lying in a poll of blood in the hallway.

Gardaí later found 9mm shell casings at the scene.

Shortly after his murder, gardaí found more than €30,000 in cash concealed in a fridge at a lock-up premises in Riverstick that was rented by Falsey.

A couple of weeks ago, detectives working on cracking an organised crime gang operating in the Cobh garda district discovered a handgun hidden in woods near the village of Watergrasshill. Ballistics experts confirmed it was the gun used to kill Falsey.

The 30-year-old man arrested yesterday was taken to Togher garda station for questioning.

The 22-year-old was being detained in Mayfield.

They are being held under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act (2007). Under this legislation, a chief superintendent can ask the courts to allow them to be detained for questioning for up to seven days. After that, a decision has to be made to either charge them or release them without charge.

Up to 60 gardaí have been involved in the murder probe. A senior garda source said it was too early to comment on whether there would be further arrests, stating: “This is only one aspect of the operation.”

Gardaí have gathered, by consent, fingerprints and DNA material from several individuals in the Carrigaline area in recent weeks.