Man held in blackmail probe

A man has been arrested during an ongoing investigation into alleged blackmail, gardaí said tonight.

Detectives involved in the sting pounced on the man, in his 30s, at Maynooth, Co Kildare, this afternoon.

Investigating officers, based at Mullingar, were backed up by the force’s Emergency Response Unit (ERU).

The arrested man is being held at Mullingar Garda Station under section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act.

“The investigation revolved around alleged extortion/blackmail,” a garda spokesman said.