GARDAI investigating the murder of Robert Sheehan, have arrested a 59-year-old man in connection with the fatal shooting of the 21-year-old outside a Bunratty hotel last September.
The man from the northside of Limerick city was arrested as gardai intensify their investigations into the murder of the young man who had previous convictions and was shot in the early hours of September 2 outside the hotel where he was attending a relatives wedding.
Shannon gardai are holding the 59-year old man on a charge of conspiracy to murder after two Limerick men were arrested, questioned and released two weeks ago in the Clare area.
A detention period of seven days is allowed before gardaí must charge or release the 59-year-old.
The investigation, which is ongoing, saw up to 100 gardai deployed to find his masked killers after a gun and discharged ammunition were found in open ground near the scene. Over 300 statements have been taken.
The family of Robert Sheehan appealed for calm in the wake of the shooting.
Sheehan was known to gardai for a number of minor offences, but was convicted of endangerment when Gavin and Millie Murray suffered horrific injuries when their car was petrol bombed. At the trial, the court heard that two other teens, who prepared the bomb, fled the scene while Robert Sheehan stayed and pulled both of the youngsters from the inferno.
The 21-year-old, who was 15 at the time of the incident was sentenced to two years detention in St Patrick’s Institution in 2007 while two others, John Mitchell and Jonathon O’Dnnoghue, both 18 at the time were sentenced to seven and eight years respectively.
Sheehan was gunned down outside the hotel after he left briefly left the celebrations.
Gardai believed the murder may have been connected to a stabbing incident last July in Moyross. They also believe that the gunman and other accomplices may have fled the country since the murder.
Shannon Gardai are continuing with their investigation into what they believe is a revenge killing.
