Gardaí have renewed their appeal for information about the murder last week in Co Louth of Det Garda Adrian Donohoe.
The 41-year-old was shot in the head as he approached a five-man gang at a car in the grounds of his local credit union in the village of Lordship.
An 08-D navy Volkswagen Passat - stolen from Clogherhead in Co Louth on January 22nd and used in the attack on Friday night - was later being found burnt out beside a forest in south Armagh.
Gardaí in Dundalk have called on anyone who noticed any suspicious activity in vicinity of Lordship Credit Union, Bellurgan, Jenkinstown, Co.Louth - between 7.30pm. and 9.30pm.last Friday or in the days before then - to contact them.
A major checkpoint was planned for 8pm this evening in the Dundalk area in relation to the murder of the detective.
One line of inquiry is the discovery of the Volkswagen car on the Keady to Newtownhamilton Road in County Armagh. The car was stolen during the course of a burglary at Clogherhead, Co.Louth between 11.30pm. and 4.30am. on the night of January 22nd. Gardaí said a large funeral was held in Clogherhead on the night of the theft and said they hope this may jog some local people’s memories of the night.
Speaking yesterday, Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan said steady progress was being made in the murder investigation, which he revealed would be slow and painstaking.
“That’s the object of the exercise; to bring these people before the courts. But no one including myself is underestimating just how difficult that process will be. But we have very, very good people working on the case, very, very committed and dedicated people,” he said.
Anyone who may have noticed this car in the day or hours leading up to Friday last or who may seen this car in the Bellurgan or Keady areas is asked to contact the incident room at Dundalk Garda station on 042 9388400 or the Garda confidential number 1800 666 111, any Garda Station or the PSNI on 04890-650222 (from Republic of Ireland) or 0845-6008000 (from Northern Ireland).