Man, 26, questioned over double murder

Gardaí questioning a 26-year-old man in connection with a double murder are hoping for a breakthrough in a case that has shocked the country.

Originally from Lithuania, he was arrested in a dramatic Garda swoop on a housing estate in Killorglin, Co Kerry, yesterday, and he was still being detained in Killarney Garda Station last night.

Garda sources believe the arrest to be significant as they continue their investigation into the stabbings of Jolanta Lubiene, 27 and also from Lithuania, and her daughter, Enrika, 8, at their home in Killorglin, almost two weeks ago.

It is believed the man knew Ms Lubiene, but is not a member of her family.

It is the second arrest in the case. Another Lithuanian man, in his 40s and taken into custody in Killorglin, on Sunday, was later released without being charged. A file is to be sent to the DPP.

Residents of the Ardmoniel Heights estate, Killorglin, told of being awakened soon after 5am after a fleet of Garda cars suddenly arrived.

A resident, John Langham, said he could hear a great deal of noise, calls to open a door, banging on a door, shouting of a man’s name. He said some of the gardaí had guns.

“It looked as if they were trying to break down the door in the house. There was an awful lot of shouting going in. Everyone in the estate must have heard it,” he said.

According to Mr Langham, the fleet consisted of two armed response units, four unmarked cars and two regular patrol cars.

He said the operation lasted from about 5.15am to 5.45am and the gardaí escorted a man from the house who was wearing jeans and shoes and had his head covered, but he did not appear to be wearing any top.

Other residents, who asked not to be named, dubbed the scene in normally quiet Ardmoniel Heights as “the dawn showdown”.

The semi-detached house where the man had been living for some months, according to locals who knew him to see, was sealed off with Garda tape.

Following the arrest, the house was also forensically examined and searched by Garda experts.

The house is less than a kilometre from the home of the late Ms Lubiene and her daughter, which was also revisited yesterday by the Garda technical examination team.

The man is being detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act and can be held for an original 24-hour period, which can be extended for further 24 hours. An interpreter is being used in the questioning process.

Meanwhile, South Kerry coroner Terence Casey confirmed he had certified the release of the bodies to the bereaved family and preparations are being made for repatriation and burial in Lithuania.