Gardaí in Cork were last night continuing to question a former public representative about an alleged conspiracy to hire a hitman to kill three people involved in an investigation into his business affairs.
The man was arrested at about 9am on Thursday at his home outside Cork city. He was detained under section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act, which allows gardaí to hold suspects for up to seven days before either releasing or charging them.
The man was brought to Gurranebraher Garda station and teams of detectives questioned him throughout yesterday in relation to allegations that he had tried to hire a hitman to kill a garda, a Revenue official and an accountant.
It is understood detectives also questioned the man regarding their suspicions that he was behind the sending of an improvised explosive device in the post to a Revenue official about nine months ago.
Gardaí will have to go to court this morning to obtain an order from a District Court judge if they wish to further extend the period of questioning of the man about the alleged conspiracy to murder the three individuals.
