File for DPP on Kinsale deaths

Gardaí are to prepare a file for the Director of Public Prosecutions after releasing without charge a fourth person arrested …

Gardaí are to prepare a file for the Director of Public Prosecutions after releasing without charge a fourth person arrested as part of an investigation into the supply of drugs to two young men who died in Kinsale at the weekend.

The 29-year-old man was arrested yesterday afternoon in Togher by gardaí investigating the deaths of Michael Coleman (22) and Liam Coffey (22), who were  found dead at Mr Coleman's rented home in Kinsale.

The man was arrested on suspicion of supplying drugs and taken to Bandon Garda station under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act.

Gardaí last night extended his initial detention period of 12 hours but the man opted not to suspend his questioning overnight and he was released early this morning without charge. A file will now be prepared for the DPP.

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Yesterday's arrest is the fourth by gardaí and follows the arrests and subsequent release without charge of a 24-year-old man, a 25-year-old man and a 21-year-old woman in Cork city.

The HSE has issued a warning about a drug which gardaí believe may have been a factor in the deaths of both Mr Coleman from Dungarvan and Mr Coffey from Cappoquin.

It warned drug users about using an ecstasy-based substance which gardaí believe was linked to the deaths of the men.

The brown powder is a combination of both ecstasy or methylamphetamine (MDMA) and para-Methoxy-N-methylamphetamine (PMMA) and can be either snorted, ingested via the tongue or injected.

The  funeral of Mr Coleman took place this morning at St Augustine’s in Dungarvan.

Mr Coffey, from Coolagurtwee in Cappoquin, will take place  tomorrow morning following requiem mass at St John the Baptist’s Church at Affane, Co Waterford, with burial afterwards in the adjoining cemetery.

Barry Roche

Barry Roche

Barry Roche is Southern Correspondent of The Irish Times