Gardai search pub for clues to murder of owner

GARDAI in Co Wicklow have carried out an extensive search of Jack White's pub near Brittas Bay, scene of the murder two months ago of a publican, Mr Tom Nevin.

The operation was carried out under warrant early on Saturday by a number of gardai from the Arklow division. The search began at about 8 a.m. and continued for "a couple of hours", according to a Garda spokesman.

No arrests were made and the spokesman declined to say whether investigators were following a new line of inquiry on the murder, which took place in the living quarters of the family run pub on the Tuesday after the St Patrick's Day weekend.

Gardai have refused to confirm reports that documents were removed from the premises during the weekend search.

Mr Nevin (55) had been doing accounts in the kitchen of the family home when he was interrupted in the early hours of March 19th. He died from a single shotgun blast in the back, fired at close range.

There was no sign of a break in at the pub, leading gardai to suspect that Mr Nevin had either admitted the raiders, or that at least one of them had remained hidden on the premises after the pub closed.

Gardai investigating the attack believed the raiders had stolen an unknown sum from a floor safe which Mr Nevin was forced to open, and that they had also taken jewellery from Mrs Nevin's bedroom after tying her to her bed.

The raid came to the gardai's attention when Mrs Nevin managed to activate an alarm which linked the premises to Arklow Garda station.

It emerged that Mr Nevin had made no lodgements to a bank night safe during the two days beforehand, leading investigators to believe the raiders had escaped with the St Patrick's Day weekend takings.

Mr Nevin's car one of two used in the raiders' getaway was later found abandoned in Dublin.

The investigation into the murder quickly focused on a south Dublin gang, one of a number of criminal groups which specialise in the armed robbery of rural premises close to Dublin.