An 81-year-old man who was arrested in connection with the murder of a young father of three in Limerick city earlier was brought to hospital shortly after he was taken into custody.
The pensioner was arrested along with his wife, who is in her mid-70s, by gardaí investigating the murder of Gary Grant (25), who was shot dead just yards from his home on St Ita's Street in St Mary's Park on Monday night.
A 20-year-old man from the St Mary's Park area was arrested an hour after the fatal shooting and on Tuesday night gardaí arrested the elderly couple as part of their investigation.
The pensioners were arrested after a semi-automatic handgun and a magazine containing several bullets were discovered during follow-up searches in the St Mary's Park area.
The firearm, which is believed to have been the weapon used in Monday's night's murder, has been sent for forensic examination along with the bullets.
The elderly couple were arrested at an address in St Mary's Park at about 8.30pm on Tuesday.
Gardaí confirmed yesterday that shortly after 10pm the 81-year-old man was taken to the Mid-Western Regional Hospital where he received all necessary medical treatment for a blood pressure complaint.
A short time later he was returned to Mayorstone Garda station.
A Garda spokesman last night said a man in his 80s and a woman in her 70s had been released without charge. A file will be prepared for the DPP.
The 20-year-old man remained in custody yesterday.