In Short

A round-up of other regional stories in brief...

A round-up of other regional stories in brief...

File sent to DPP over allegation of extortion

Gardaí in south Galway have released a man who was detained for questioning in relation to an alleged attempt to extort money from Galway county councillor Michael "Stroke" Fahy, writes Lorna Siggins.

The man, who is in his 60s, was arrested on Tuesday at the Four Courts in Dublin and was taken to Gort Garda station for questioning. He was later released without charge and a file is being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.

READ MORE

Mr Fahy resigned from Fianna Fáil in 2004 over an inquiry into funds used for a local authority community scheme in Ardrahan, Co Galway.

He was convicted in February 2007 of charges relating to the erection of fencing on his land, and was fined and sentenced to a year in jail. That conviction was struck down and he was convicted last year during a retrial. He is appealing to the Court of Criminal Appeal.

Man questioned on McCarthy threat

Gardaí investigating a death threat made against former Cork hurling manager Gerald McCarthy have interviewed a man in relation to the case.

The man was not arrested but was interviewed voluntarily by officers on Monday.

No charges have been brought and a file is being prepared for the DPP.

The investigation got underway in mid-February after Gerald McCarthy resigned as manager of the Cork senior hurling panel.

In his resignation statement, he said family members had asked him to step down after a death threat was made in a phone call to his family home a few days earlier.

In the March 10th statement, he said: “A few days ago my father, who is in his mid-80s, pleaded with me to step down after one of my sons, in my absence abroad, received the latest threat against me.”

Release of pair held over stabbing

TWO men arrested in connection with the murder of an 18-year-old Limerick man were released without charge yesterday.

Darren Bennett died following a stabbing incident near his home in Craeval Park Moyross on March 18th.

Two men aged in their mid-30s were arrested on Tuesday as part of the Garda inquiry.

Both were released without charge yesterday.

A file is being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions, a Garda spokesman said.