Kerry murders: Man questioned over withholding details

A man in his 40s arrested at his home in Killorglin yesterday in connection with a double murder in the Kerry town may have information in relation to a suspect leaving the country.

The man, originally from Lithuania, was arrested at 3.30am as part of the investigation into the murders of Jolanta Lubiene, 27, from Lithuania, and her 8-year-old daughter Enrika, who were stabbed to death in their home on Jun 15.

He was detained under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act and can be held initially for 24 hours, but the period can be extended to 72 hours.

It is not clear if the man is a suspect in the case, but it is believed he is being held on suspicion of withholding information vital to investigating gardaí. He was still being questioned by gardaí in Killarney last night.

It is also understood the man, who works for a local business, was known to Ms Lubiene and her husband, Marius Lubys. Interpreters are being used in the questioning process.

Upwards of 70 gardaí are involved in the probe, which they describe as difficult, so far. While several lines of inquiry are being pursued, a specific suspect or motive for the murders have yet to be established.

However, detectives are convinced Ms Lubiene knew the killer.

The bodies of Ms Lubiene and Enrika were found in their rented house, 9 Langford Downs, Killorglin, at 8.30pm on Sunday, Jun 16.

Prayers were said for the pair at weekend Masses and religious services in the town.

Gardaí have been trawling the internet to trace online activity by Jolanta and people she was in contact with in recent weeks.

Some Sunday newspapers also published details of Jolanta’s use of a number of dating websites, including anotherfriend.com on which she used the profile name ‘snowhite13’.

She posted a photograph she took of herself in front of a mirror, with a phone. On the website, she said she loved to meet new people and chat. She listed her occupation as “chef” and said her religion was Catholic.

In regard to her marital status, she said, “ask me later’’. Her husband, Mr Lubys, who had been in Sweden for six months prior to her killing, returned to Kerry last Monday.

She also disclosed some details of her social life; that she smoked regularly and drank socially in Kingston’s bar, Killorglin.

Gardaí are scrutinising her laptop, diaries, and mobile phone traffic and are trying to trace everyone with whom she was in contact. The search for a knife used in the murders is continuing in the vicinity of the Langford Downs housing estate.

Ms Lubiene had been living in Kerry for five years, but had planned to return home to Lithuania in the coming weeks to be with her father, who is seriously ill with cancer.

She had been selling her car and other goods online and, it is understood, her eventual plan was to move to Sweden, where her husband had been working since December.

She was last seen at 1.50pm on Saturday Jun 15, walking on Langford St, Killorglin, as she returned from shopping in the Aldi supermarket.

Gardaí have appealed to the public for information on anyone acting suspiciously in the area between 1pm and 6pm that day.