Gardaí in Sligo who are investigating the murder of a 26-year- old man shot in the centre of a busy street last month have arrested 14 people during an early morning raid on several houses yesterday.
Six women and eight men were arrested at nine locations throughout Sligo town between 7am and 8am.
Last evening they were still being held under section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act at a number of Garda stations throughout the northwest.
It is understood that two people were being held at Sligo station while others were being questioned at stations in Leitrim, Sligo and Donegal.
Hughie McGinley, Connaughton Road, Sligo, was shot in the head in front of his partner and their four-month-old son as he sat in a parked van in Grattan Street on the afternoon of April 28th.
He was shot by the pillion passenger of a motor cycle which pulled up opposite his Hiace van on a busy shopping street.
There has been widespread speculation that the murder was linked to an continuing feud between two Sligo families.
Senior gardaí however have insisted that they are keeping an open mind as to the motive behind the killing.
Supt Michael Barrett, who is leading the investigation, said that the arrests were part of the ongoing investigation into Mr McGinley's murder.
The 14 people can be held for an initial 24-hour period which can be extended for 72 hours.
It is understood that a car was also seized yesterday and is being examined by forensic experts.
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