A friend of the man arrested by gardai for questioning about the murder of the Frenchwoman, Ms Sophie Toscan du Plantier, protested his innocence yesterday. She, too, had been taken in for questioning about the killing which happened in west Cork two days before Christmas.
The man, released after 12 hours from Bandon Garda Station on Monday night, was not at his home and his friend, who lives nearby said she had not seen him since he was detained.
"I could not believe someone I know could do something like this," she said. "He is innocent."
She and some members of her family have been questioned frequently since the battered body of the 39-year-old television producer was discovered by a neighbour near her holiday home in Toormore, eight miles from Schull.
She said she was distressed by the whole experience and was suffering from exhaustion.
Chief Supt Noel Smith, who is in charge of the murder investigation, said inquiries were continuing. The file on the case was being sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions.