Woman held in O'Reilly case freed without charge

The 37-year-old woman who was being questioned by Gardaí investigating the murder of Rachel O'Reilly has been released without…

The 37-year-old woman who was being questioned by Gardaí investigating the murder of Rachel O'Reilly has been released without charge.

A Garda spokeswoman told ireland.comthis afternoon that the woman, who is in a relationship with the chief suspect, was released from Drogheda garda staiton shortly after 3.30pm.

The woman was arrested in Dublin on suspicion of withholding information at about 3.30pm yesterday and taken to Drogheda, where she was helping Gardaí with their inquiries.

A man who was known to Ms O'Reilly and is the chief suspect in the case was released without charge before 9.30pm last night.

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Ms O'Reilly (30) was found dead at her home in Baldarragh, Naul, Co Dublin, on October 4th, 2004, by her mother. The alarm was raised when Ms O'Reilly failed to collect one of her two children from a creche.

New evidence has been gathered and it is thought that the 18-month long Garda investigation has now entered its final phase.

It is now likely that a file on the murder will soon be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions for a decision on whether a prosecution can be pursued.

The chief suspect was arrested in Dublin at around 9.30am yesterday. He was detained at Drogheda Garda station under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act. Gardaí were entitled to hold him for 12 hours without charge.