Gardaí are today due to charge or release a south Dublin man arrested at his home yesterday morning for questioning about the murder of childcare worker Elaine O’Hara, whose remains were discovered in the Dublin mountains last month, more than a year after she went missing.
The 41-year-old father of two, who is a partner in a professional practice in Dublin, was detained when gardaí carried out a pre-dawn raid on his home in Foxrock.
He was held under section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, which allows for his detention for up to 24 hours without charge. With his questioning suspended overnight, his detention was not due to expire until after lunchtime today.
After he was taken for questioning to Blackrock Garda station, members of the investigation team searched his house.
Electronic devices
It is understood that a number of electronic devices, including a mobile phone and a computer, were taken for analysis and that two vehicles connected to the man are also being forensically examined.
The man had not come to the attention of the Garda before.
Ms O’Hara (36), from Killiney, Dublin, was last seen at 6.15pm on Wednesday, August 22nd, 2012, near Shanganagh cemetery in south Dublin, where her mother is buried. Her car was found two days later. She had been in hospital for treatment for depression in the period before she disappeared.
Nothing emerged about her whereabouts until her decomposed remains were found in undergrowth by a woman walking her dog on September 13th on Killakee mountain, Rathfarnham.
Belongings found
A bag containing a number of items belonging to Ms O'Hara, as well as her mobile phone and keys, were discovered in a reservoir near Roundwood, Co Wicklow, at different times in the days before and after her body was found. Since Ms O'Hara's remains were found, her computer and telephone records have been studied and have led gardaí to the man in custody last night.
He had been identified as a chief suspect some time ago but had been undergoing medical treatment, forcing a delay in moving against him.
