Six questioned in relation to death of drug dealer

Five men and a woman were being questioned by gardaí today in connection with the murder of a 29-year-old drug dealer in Cork.

Gardaí detained a woman last night over the death of Eric Cummins, who was shot dead in front of his partner and one-and-a-half-year-old son outside his home in Ballincollig on August 13.

The latest arrest brings to six the number of people being questioned about the death.

Five men, ranging in age from their late 20s to their mid-40s, were arrested two days ago.

One of the men is being detained in Gurranbraher Garda station and the other four are being held at various stations in Cork city.

A Garda spokeswoman said all the men were being detained under Section 30 of Offences Against The State Act, and could be held for up to 72 hours.

The gunman who killed Mr Cummins is believed to have been waiting outside his house in the Oldcastle Estate in Ballincollig in a parked car for up to an hour beforehand. He opened fire when Mr Cummins returned home after a night out.

Teenagers in the area witnessed the incident and told officers several shots were fired.

The killer was described as being 6ft and of an athletic build. He fled to a waiting car in the adjacent Fernwalk estate, which was later found burnt out nearby.

Mr Cummins was originally from the Lough area in Cork City, and was known to gardaí for his involvement in the drugs trade. He had only been living in the rented house with his partner and child for two months.