Gardai released a man without charge in Galway last night, having arrested him on foot of the investigation into the death of the Connemara schoolgirl Ms Siobhan Hynes.
The investigating team said it would intensify its efforts, after the man was released shortly before 8 p.m. The man, who was said to be single and in his mid-20s, was arrested at 7.50 a.m. yesterday when his home in Carraroe was surrounded by about 15 gardai. He was taken to Salthill Garda station for questioning.
The house was sealed off for forensic examination by Garda technical experts, and a car on the premises was also removed and taken for examination to Salthill. The arrest was made under the 1989 Criminal Justice Act, which permits detention for up to 12 hours before renewal.
The arrest came 10 days after the schoolgirl was found dead on the rocky shoreline at Tismeain, two miles from Carraroe.
an, Ms Hynes (17), who was due to sit her Leaving Certificate examination next summer, was one of a family of three girls from Sconse, west of Leitir Mor. Although the preliminary post-mortem results were inconclusive, a murder investigation was initiated the day after her body was discovered. The results of DNA analysis from the girl's body are expected this week.
Already the investigation has found crucial material, including several items of jewellery worn by an was wearing Ms Hynes on the night she died, and her fleece jacket. Her watch, which had stopped at 4.30, was discovered close to where her body was found.
It is believed the schoolgirl may have taken a lift from someone she knew. She was last seen alive at 12.45 a.m. on December 6th after parting from a group of friends, having said she was going to a chip shop in Carraroe village.
She never arrived at the chip shop.
:quality(70)/s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/irishtimes/13e684a8-3abb-448a-9ed3-dca27c980495.png)