Three people arrested over murder of Lithuanian criminal

Three people have been arrested in connection with the murder of Lithuanian criminal Gintaras Zelvys two weeks ago.

Zelvys (41) was shot dead in front of his wife outside his 'cash-for-clothes' business in an industrial park at Rathcoole, Co Dublin on May 1st.

He had served a seven-year sentence for his involvement in criminal activities and had been deported from Ireland.

He was convicted of being involved in an extortion racket which frequently targeted his fellow eastern Europeans.

Zelvys also had convictions for sexual assault, robbery and prison-breaking in his native Lithuania. When jailed in Ireland he ran a phone and drug-smuggling operation in the State's maximum security prison in Portlaoise, which is reserved for paramilitary prisoners and the highest-risk organised criminals in the State.

When the extent of his smuggling operation came to light he was transferred from Portlaoise to Castlerea.

Zelvys had returned to Ireland when the shooting took place.

The three men, two in their late twenties and one in their mid-thirties, were arrested this morning and detained under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2007, at various garda stations in Dublin.

Gardaí are appealing to the public for information in relation to the silver Audi A3 (five-door hatchback) car with the partial registration number 05 - TN that was in the vicinity of the shooting.

It was either in Pace Avenue, Little Pace, between March 19th and April 30th or in Newcastle Boulevard/Aylmer Road, Newcastle on night of April 30th and the morning of May 1st.

They also wish to speak to anyone who observed a silver coloured taxi - a Toyota Avensis estate car with the partial registration number 10 - D in the vicinity of either Newcastle village on April 30th or Greenogue Industrial Estate, Co Dublin, on May 1st to contact them at Clondalkin Garda station 01 6667635, or the Garda Confidential line on 1800 666 111.