Four held on alleged plot to kill cartoonist released

FOUR OF seven people arrested in Waterford city and Cork on Tuesday last in relation to an alleged murder plot of a Swedish cartoonist have been released.

A man and a woman who were detained at Dungarvan Garda station were released from custody on Friday. Also on Friday evening, a woman was released from Tramore Garda station, while on Saturday afternoon, a woman was released at Thomastown in Co Kilkenny without charge.

Files will be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions in relation to all four.

The arrests relate to an alleged conspiracy plot to murder cartoonist Lars Vilks after his 2007 portrayal of the Prophet Muhammad enraged Muslims.

The images created by Mr Vilks pasted the head of the prophet on a dog’s body.

Gardaí took three men, in custody since Tuesday last, to a special sitting of the District Court in Waterford on Saturday evening to have their periods of detention extended by a further 48 hours. The sittings were heard in camera because the court acceded to a Garda application that the hearings exclude the media.

The application, made under section 29 of the 2009 Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act, incorporates an extension of the lengths of detention times to allow further investigation and questioning of suspects.

Judge Terence Finn granted the Garda its application at the courthouse on Saturday evening.

The three men were taken to and from the courthouse in unmarked Garda cars on Saturday, shortly after 8pm.

All seven are non-nationals who are living legally in the State.

The three detained men were still being questioned last night.