Gardaí in Kilrush, Co Clare, have released without charge a 20-year-old Limerick man they had been questioning in connection with a shooting incident in the county early on bank holiday Monday. Pat Flynn reports.
Gardaí were alerted to the incident by the owner of a house near the west Clare town at around 11 a.m. on Monday. A single shot was discharged at the house at Tullycrine by a man travelling with four others in a black car.
While armed detectives from Kilrush went to the scene, Garda patrols from Ennis were drafted in to search for the car, which was spotted heading in the Ennis direction.
A vehicle fitting the description of the suspect car was spotted near Kilmorane, three miles from Ennis. Gardaí stopped it and detained five men, all believed to be from the Limerick area.
The men were interviewed by gardaí in Ennis before one was arrested and detained under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act. He was taken to Kilrush Garda station for questioning. A firearm was also recovered from the vehicle.
Following questioning, the man was released without charge. Gardaí are now satisfied that the weapon used was a pellet gun, and that there was nothing "really sinister" about the incident.
Gardaí have also confirmed that they believe there is no connection between the shooting and any ongoing investigation or other activity in the Kilrush area.
While gardaí have released the suspect without charge, they have confirmed that a file will be prepared for the DPP.
Nobody was injured in the incident, which has been described as "probably a stupid prank".