Gardaí make sixth arrest in Coolock murder inquiry

Gardaí are questioning a sixth person in connection with the murder of a young mother at a birthday party in Dublin last weekend.

The 21 year-old is being questioned at Coolock garda station after he presented himself at the station this evening in the company of his solicitor and is being detained under section 30 of The Offences against The State Act.

Donna Cleary (22), a mother-of-one, was fatally wounded after the house in which she was attending a 40th birthday party was hit by up to five bullets.

It is understood gardaí had been looking for him and had carried out a number of searches in the Coolock area this morning

Gardaí have questioned five people in connection with the attack to date. Three individuals were freed without charge.  A fourth,  Geoffrey Finnegan (26) from Rathvilly Drive in Finglas - was freed last night after the High Court ruled his continuing detention was illegal.

Gardaí confirmed a file would be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions in relation to the case.

The other man being questioned, Wayne Harte, of Little Pace Drive in Dublin, was released from Garda custody without charge last night when his detention period finished

The chief suspect in the death, Dwayne Foster, who was one of the five arrested in Co Kildare, died in Garda custody in the early hours of yesterday morning. Gardaí have insisted Mr Foster (24), from Finglas, died of natural causes.

Gardaí believe the culprits shot indiscriminately at the house after earlier being refused entry to the party.

The suspect, who had been linked to major armed robberies and drug dealing in the capital, was seen by doctors at least three times while being questioned and was rushed to hospital on two occasions.

An ambulance was called for Mr Foster after he was found lying unconscious in his cell, and he was pronounced dead at Beaumont Hospital.

A superintendent from Sligo division has been appointed to review the circumstances of his death.