Search resumes at home of murdered former Garda

Work on evacuating rear patio of house where gardaí believe murder victim may be buried continues

Work on evacuating the rear patio of a house where gardaí believe a murder victim may be buried has resumed in Cavan today.

The house at Cornaveigh near Bailieborough in Cavan belonged to former detective Garda John Kerins who was murdered there last November.

This morning, diggers resumed the search of the rear of the house where Mr Kerins lived.

Two men in their 30's were arrested yesterday in the Bailieborough area in connection with the fatal shooting. The two men remain in garda custody at Carrickmacross Garda station in Co Monaghan today where they will face questions about Mr Kerins' murder. The two men are being held under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2007. They can be held for an initial 18 hours before an extension of 24 can be signed off by a chief superintendent.

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A number of searches are now taking place in the Baileborough area in connection with the case.

Evacavators have finished removing the large amount of concrete that was laid at the rear of Mr Kerins' house shortly after a neighbour, Gerard Daly, disappeared two years ago. Earlier this year, Mr Daly's disappearance became a formal murder investigation.

Gardaí believe that Mr Kerins’ murder is connected with the disappearance of missing man Gerard Daly. Mr Kerins and Mr Daly knew each other from their shared interest in dog-breeding for a security business and lived on the same road. At the time of his murder Mr Kerins faced two charges of possession of stolen property, including plant and farm machinery, valued at €20,000.

When investigating the stolen property accusation gardaí searched his home earlier this year and discovered a small amount of drugs, three cannabis plants and a stun gun. Originally from Trim, Co Meath, Mr Kerins joined the gardaí in 1983 and was posted to Crumlin in Dublin. He moved to the fraud squad as a detective but was later demoted to a uniformed garda.

Gardaí are still appealing for information and Bailieborough Garda station can be contacted on (042) 966 5102.