Seven people arrested in connection with the murder of elderly Mayo man Eddie Fitzmaurice in 1998 have been released without charge.
Two were freed this morning and the other five last night. A file is being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) on all seven.
The seven were arrested in by gardaí from Galway and Mayo, assisted by the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, yesterday morning.
Mr Fitzmaurice (83) died after being assaulted, bound and gagged at his home in Bellaghy, Charlestown , Co Mayo. The attack happened on or around the night of May 1st, 1998, but his body was not found until five days later.
Detectives say he was in his bed during the attack but managed to break free of his binds and make his way to a front bedroom where he died trying to make a call for help.
Deputy State Pathologist Dr Maura Cassidy, who carried out a postmortem, found hypothermia may have been a contributory factor in his death along with low mobility due to wrist and ankle restraints.
Mr Fitzmaurice lived above his drapery shop, and gardaí believe the motive of the attack was robbery.