Man held over threats to RTÉ presenter released

A man who was being questioned by Gardai as part of an investigation into threats of sexual violence made against RTÉ presenter Sharon Ní Bheoláin has been released without charge.

He was released at 7pm on Wednesday night and a file is being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.

The suspect is a 37-year-old man with an address in the middle class north Dublin suburb of Portmarnock. The Irish Times understands he has not come to the attention of the Garda before.

He was arrested at the Portmarnock address on Tuesday and was taken for questioning to Raheny Garda station in north Dublin.

Garda sources said the threats, which have included pornographic images being sent to the journalist via email and the postal service, are regarded as being “at the upper end of the scale”.

Some of the material sent to the presenter via email assisted the Garda in tracing the suspect via his IP address.

Computers seized as part of the investigation are also being examined by Garda technical experts.

Gardai say while the material sent to the mother of one was “horrendous” there is no evidence as of yet that the person who sent the emails intended to attack or even approach the broadcaster.

Ms Ní Bheoláin has continued to present the main evening news bulletins on RTÉ as the Garda investigation into the campaign of harassment against her has gathered pace.