The three serving members of An Garda Siochána arrested this morning as part of the Carty inquiry into corruption in the Donegal Division have been released without charge.
A Garda spokesman said the three, a sergeant and two gardaí were freed shortly after 2.00 p.m. today and files are being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecution.
They were detained this morning shortly after 8.00 a.m. at various locations in Co Donegal and taken to Letterkenny Garda Station for questioning.
They are understood to have been questioned over alleged false reports and wasting Garda time. They were detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984.
A total of six gardaí have now been arrested in relation to the Carty inquiry.
Only one, Sergeant John White, Ballybofey, Co Donegal, is currently facing charges. He is accused of illegal possession of a gun, giving false statements and attempting to pervert the course of justice.
The inquiry, conducted by Garda Assistant Commissioner Kevin Carty, was set up in 1999 to investigate, among other serious matters, claims by the McBrearty family of harrassment and corruption by Donegal gardaí.
The McBrearty family had 160 charges laid against them for licensing offences, all later withdrawn.
Other matters being examined include the handling of the investigation into the death of cattle dealer Mr Richie Barron, who was found dead by the side of a road in Raphoe in 1996. He had serious hed injuries.
A murder inquiry was opened and Mr Frank McBrearty Jnr and other members of his family were arrested and questioned. No member of the family was charged in connection with Mr Barron's death.
There were also claims that explosives were stolen from Garda care and rehidden in caches, one over the Border, so that certain officers would get credit for these finds.