Major response to TV appeal in Daingean murder probe

There was a significant public response to a televised Garda appeal for information on RTE"s Crimecall, local Gardai have confirmed. Already, over 700 people have been interviewed and over 300 statements have been taken, while three men have been arrested and questioned by gardaí as part of their investigation into the murder of Daingean publican Matt Farrell. The massive murder investigation is continuing and Gardaí are receiving a positive response to the reconstruction of the night of the violent murder which appeared on RTÉ"s 'Crimecall' programme broadcast last Monday night. Inspector Pat Murray, who is leading the investigation, appeared on the show and appealed for anyone with even the smallest piece of information to contact him in full confidence. 'Matthew Farrell was a respected and senior figure in the community... Matt met his death in a sudden, brutal and unnecessary fashion. I am appealing directly to people for help,' said Insp Murray. Insp Murray wants anyone who was in or passed through Daingean between midnight March 31 and 7am April 1 to contact the Garda at 057 9328078. Gardaí are also anxious to eliminate certain vehicles from their inquiries that were in the Daingean murder on the night in question. Matt"s son Matthew junior, his neighbouring publican Michael Seery and friend Catherine Stapleton, who is also worked in the bar, appeared on 'Crimecall' to talk about Matt and the night in question. Catherine shared a final drink with her husband and Matt before going home at 2.30am. Matt"s last words to her were 'Lovely hurling, ring me tomorrow'. She said that locals were 'terrified in their own homes now'. Local publican Michael Seery said that the whole village was 'filled with shock' and that every business owner 'feels' the tragic death. His son Matthew described the 'total shock' upon discovering his father the next morning and told how hard it was for him to break the news to his brother and sisters. The third man to be arrested in connection with the murder investigation was released without charge last Friday morning April 24. He was arrested in Galway on Thursday afternoon under section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act. It"s believed that the man is from Co Laois and in his 20s. On Saturday April 11, Gardaí in Tullamore released without charge two men who had been arrested over the previous two days. The first, a man in his late 20s, was arrested on Thursday April 9 and detailed under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act. And on Friday April 10, a second man was detained under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act. Files on both are being prepared for the DPP.